The World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) is the first treaty negotiated under the auspices of WHO and one of the most widely and rapidly embraced United Nations treaties in history. A total of 183 Parties have joined the Convention, which entered into force 20 years ago. The treaty provides a legal framework and a comprehensive package of evidence-based tobacco control measures underpinned by international law that have saved millions of lives. The Eleventh session of the Conference of the Parties (COP11) to the WHO FCTC is taking place from 17 to 22 November 2025 at the Geneva International Conference Center (CICG), followed by the Fourth session of the Meeting of the Parties (MOP4) to the Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products, from 24 to 26 November 2025. The COP and the MOP, to be attended by over 1400 delegates representing governments, international organizations and civil society, provide a platform for Parties to review and strengthen the implementation of the WHO FCTC and the Protocol. The deliberations began this morning and can be tracked here. [1]
The Global Cities Hub encourages cities and region to connect those discussions to their work and advocacy on plastic pollution. According to WHO data, cigarette filters, made of plastic cellulose acetate, are a substantial source of plastic pollution that harms nature and biodiversity in general, but that affects cities severely due to higher population density and thus higher proportion of smokers. The link between cigarette waste and plastic pollution should be, therefore, part of our plastic pollution advocacy: cigarette filters are already a waste management issue for cities worldwide, with, for example, Swiss municipalities spending “CHF52 million ($57 million) a year on the removal of cigarette litter alone”. [2]
While cities and regions are not really represented at the WHO FCTC COP11, they can still tackle the issue through the angle of plastic pollution, among all the other issues on plastic pollution, heading towards INC-5.3. INC-5.3 will be a one-day-long session, taking place in Geneva on 7 February 2025, dedicated to the finalisation of the negotiation of a new plastic treaty session.
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Learn more on the history of the negotiations of the Plastic Pollution Treaty.
[1] Geneva Environment Network, Global Tobacco Control Treaties to Address Tobacco’s Impact on the Environment, published 17/11/2025. Read the article.
[2] Swissinfo, More than half a million cigarette butts picked up in two weeks, published 07/06/2023. Read the article.