When the world’s attention turned to Belém, Brazil, last month for COP30, the UN’s climate summit, the news was dominated by symbolism of the Amazon rainforest and heated debates on fossil fuels. There was also a strong yet unrequited call for climate justice. Almost simultaneously, however, another COP was unfolding in Geneva, Switzerland—the Eleventh Conference of the Parties (COP11) to the World Health Organisation Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC)—held from November 17 to 22. Though less noticed, COP11 was equally urgent.

The COP11 marked 20 years of the FCTC, the world’s first global public health treaty negotiated under the WHO, which was designed to fight the world’s deadliest preventable epidemic. Tobacco still kills more than 7 million people annually, and in the words of WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, each of the deaths is preventable.

Its agenda this year was ambitious. Deliberations ranged from tackling the environmental harms of tobacco and nicotine products, strengthening liability measures, considering forward-looking steps beyond the treaty’s minimum obligations, and pushing back the industry’s harmful narrative on ‘harm reduction’. Nepal signalled its priorities early in the conference through a national statement in a plenary, reaffirming its strong commitment to the WHO FCTC and the primacy of science, human rights and public health over commercial interests.

Tobacco and the environment

During the proceedings, environmental concerns took centre stage. Delegates underscored the damage caused across the lifecycle of tobacco and nicotine products—including cultivation, manufacturing, consumption and disposal. The parties emphasised the need to address pollution caused by cigarette butts, disposable electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) and related devices. On this item, the conference saw intense and difficult negotiations. A few delegations questioned whether the tobacco conference was an appropriate forum to discuss environmental issues.

However, Nepal and other delegations made a strong argument against such a denial. Nepal underscored that tackling the environmental consequences of tobacco was one of the key pillars of the FCTC. Coordinating the group position of the State Parties from the South-East Asia Region, Nepal also contributed to the formal and informal negotiations on this issue. Eventually, a decision that called for comprehensive regulatory responses, measures to counter industry ‘greenwashing’, and protection of environmental policymaking from industry interference was adopted.

Industry liability and accountability

Another major agenda was industry liability and accountability. The conference called for stronger implementation of Article 19, which holds the industry accountable for the health and social costs of its products. Litigation against tobacco companies has historically played a crucial role in exposing industry misconduct and securing compensation for victims. By strengthening liability measures, COP11 sought to ensure that the burden of tobacco-related harm does not fall solely on governments and individuals. Rather, corporations profiting from addiction must be held fully and directly accountable for the consequences of their products.

In parallel, the COP invited parties to adopt forward-looking measures going beyond the treaty obligations. This reflected a willingness to push the boundaries of global tobacco control. Nepal was also a member of the drafting group and participated in the negotiations. The decision allows governments flexibility to innovate and tailor approaches beyond the minimum measures set in the framework convention. At a side-event on the innovative labelling and packaging approaches, Nepal was also one of the panellists. It shared its experience as the first country in the world to mandate 100 percent pictorial health warnings on the front and back of tobacco packages—a measure internationally recognised as setting a new global benchmark.

Smokescreen of harm reduction

One of the most contentious debates at COP11 revolved around the so-called ‘harm reduction’ strategies. The tobacco and nicotine industries have been promoting products such as e-cigarettes, heated tobacco and nicotine pouches as safer alternatives to combustible cigarettes. However, this approach invites newer harms. Flavoured e-cigarettes, sleek devices and targeted digital campaigns are designed to appeal to youth and children—thereby creating more harm. Youth advocates at COP11 warned that such tactics undermine the goal of tobacco-free generations.

Thus, the harm reduction narratives, as promoted by the industry, function as a smokescreen. Allowing these narratives to dominate risks weakening the Convention’s core principles and jeopardising decades of progress. After all, this smokescreen of harm reduction is a gateway to, rather than an exit from, nicotine addiction. Delegations, including Nepal, pushed against this smokescreen that could legitimise pathways into addiction, particularly for children and youths. Given the lack of consensus, no decision was possible on this issue, and the matter has been deferred to COP12.

SEAR’s leadership

Amid these complex negotiations, the South-East Asia Region’s (SEAR) collective leadership stood out. The region coordinated positions and strategies, contributed actively to the drafting committees, and delivered strong regional deliberations at the conferences. Technical expertise from health ministries was backed up by the diplomatic and legal perspectives of foreign services. This symbiotic approach allowed the SEAR to play a meaningful role in the proceedings, with many regional priorities ultimately reflected in both discussions and outcomes. It is an approach worth using in other negotiation forums as well—bringing technical, diplomatic and legal inputs together to shape more coherent, influential positions that can materially affect final decisions.

As the region emphasised in the closing plenary, what made the SEAR’s intervention powerful was its solidarity. Despite the region’s diversity, the parties stood as one against the vested interests of the tobacco industry. As the tentacles of the tobacco industry reach across borders, the response must be equally transnational. The SEAR called for international cooperation, capacity strengthening and mutual support for tobacco control. Guided by science, anchored in solidarity and committed to saving lives, the region pledged to continue moving forward decisively and together.

Nepal, too, contributed in its own humble ways to this collective effort. The delegation participated actively in strategising, joined the drafting of group statements and spoke on certain agenda items on behalf of the region. Nepal also represented the region in the negotiation rooms on a few agenda items. These modest contributions reinforced the spirit of unity and ensured that the SEAR’s collective voice was both coherent and impactful.

Conclusion

COP11 offered a timely reminder that the fight against tobacco is far from over. From oil to tobacco, powerful industries know how to spin the narratives. Just as fossil fuel lobbyists attempt to water down climate commitments, the tobacco and nicotine industry has pushed ‘harm reduction’ as a smokescreen to protect profits. Nepal’s constructive engagement reflects the country’s commitment to the FCTC, including the goal to combat public health, economic and environmental consequences of tobacco products. As the convention moves into its third decade, the challenge is to see through the smokescreen and safeguard present and future generations from the preventable harms of tobacco and nicotine products.

The authors represented Nepal at the COP11 of the WHO FCTC in Geneva.