20 years of tobacco control in the EU: are we moving towards a tobacco-free future? – World Health Organization (WHO)

Report on World No Tobacco Day 2026: Aligning with Sustainable Development Goals

Introduction: A Threat to Global Health and Sustainable Development

The World Health Organization (WHO) has announced the theme for World No Tobacco Day 2026: “Unmasking the appeal – countering nicotine and tobacco addiction.” This initiative directly addresses critical barriers to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being). The campaign will focus on exposing the tactics of the tobacco and nicotine industry, which actively undermines global public health progress by targeting new generations, including children and adolescents, with addictive products. These industry strategies represent a significant threat to the achievement of SDG Target 3.4, which aims to reduce premature mortality from non-communicable diseases.

The Youth Epidemic: A Direct Challenge to SDG 3 and SDG 4

The industry’s focus on youth recruitment through new products like e-cigarettes and nicotine pouches has created a public health crisis that jeopardizes the well-being of future generations. This targeted marketing undermines SDG 4 (Quality Education) by promoting harmful consumption patterns among adolescents. The scale of this issue is highlighted by recent data:

• At least 40 million children aged 13–15 globally use at least one tobacco product.
• An estimated 15 million adolescents in the same age group are current users of e-cigarettes.
• Data indicates that children are, on average, nine times more likely than adults to use vaping products.

These statistics illustrate a direct assault on the health and well-being of young people, creating a cycle of addiction that counters global efforts to ensure healthy lives for all, as mandated by SDG 3.

Campaign Objectives: A Framework for Advancing Multiple SDGs

The 2026 campaign outlines a multi-faceted approach to counter industry manipulation and protect public health, aligning with several SDGs. The core objectives are:

1. Raise Awareness: To educate the public, especially youth, on the evolving strategies of the tobacco and nicotine industry. This objective supports SDG 4 by providing critical knowledge for health and well-being and promotes SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) by exposing unsustainable and harmful industry practices.
2. Advocate for Stronger Policy Action: To push for comprehensive regulations, including bans on flavours and advertising, particularly on digital platforms. This aligns with SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions) by calling for effective and accountable governance to protect citizens, and directly supports the implementation of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (SDG Target 3.a).
3. Prevent Addiction and Reduce Demand: To empower individuals with the tools to resist industry manipulation and access cessation support. This goal is fundamental to achieving SDG 3 by preventing the onset of addiction and reducing the burden of tobacco-related diseases.

A Call to Action for SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

The World No Tobacco Day 2026 campaign is a call for strengthened global partnership, reflecting the principles of SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). It urges governments, health organizations, civil society, and youth advocates to unite in a shared mission to strengthen regulation, close policy gaps, and safeguard future generations from the harms of tobacco and nicotine. This collaborative effort is essential to counter the powerful tobacco industry and secure a sustainable, tobacco-free future, thereby contributing significantly to the global 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

The primary Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) addressed in the article is:

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

  The entire article focuses on public health issues related to tobacco and nicotine use. It discusses the World Health Organization’s (WHO) campaign to counter addiction, protect young people from harmful products, and reduce the prevalence of tobacco use. The campaign’s mission to “end the tobacco epidemic and secure a tobacco- and nicotine-free future” directly aligns with the overarching goal of ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all at all ages.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

Based on the article’s content, the following specific targets under SDG 3 can be identified:

• Target 3.4: By 2030, reduce by one third premature mortality from non-communicable diseases through prevention and treatment and promote mental health and well-being.

  The article’s focus on reducing tobacco and nicotine use is a direct preventative measure against non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as cancer, heart disease, and chronic respiratory diseases, for which tobacco is a primary risk factor. The campaign’s goal to “prevent addiction and reduce demand” is a key strategy for achieving this target by preventing the onset of these diseases.

• Target 3.a: Strengthen the implementation of the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control in all countries, as appropriate.

  This target is explicitly addressed. The article details the WHO’s campaign to “advocate for stronger policy action,” including “bans on flavours, advertising and promotion,” and “regulation of packaging and product design.” These actions are central to the implementation of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC). The call for governments to “strengthen regulation, close policy gaps, and safeguard future generations” is a direct appeal to implement the FCTC more robustly.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

Yes, the article provides specific data that can be used as an indicator to measure progress, particularly related to Target 3.a.

• Indicator 3.a.1: Age-standardized prevalence of current tobacco use among persons aged 15 years and older.

  While the official indicator focuses on ages 15 and older, the article provides crucial data for a younger demographic, which serves as a leading indicator for future trends. The article explicitly states: “at least 40 million children aged 13–15 globally report current use of at least one tobacco product. Of these, 20 million smoke cigarettes and 10 million use smokeless (oral/nasal) tobacco.” It also notes that “at least 15 million adolescents aged 13–15 years are already using e-cigarettes.” This data on the prevalence of tobacco and nicotine product use among youth is a direct measure of the problem the campaign seeks to address and provides a baseline against which the success of tobacco control policies can be measured.

4. Create a table with three columns titled ‘SDGs, Targets and Indicators’ to present the findings from analyzing the article.

Source: who.int