CEO Perspective

Increasingly, we see cities rising to societies’ biggest challenges—from climate change and road safety, to obesity and tobacco use. They are engines of change, able to move quickly to implement life-changing policies that affect great numbers of people.

Undernourishment, hidden hunger and overweight and obesity have lifelong impacts on children’s survival, physical growth and development, with overweight and obesity increasing their risk of suffering from diseases such as heart disease and diabetes later in life.

A failure of political will is resulting in too many people dying needlessly from heart attack and stroke.

We urge governments around the world to join India in regulating e-cigarettes in line with circumstances in their own country, to prevent e-cigarette use among adolescents and youth and stop these products from undermining efforts to reduce tobacco use.

A one-third increase in cigarette prices in Indonesia, announced by a finance ministry spokesperson and reported by media outlets, would represent a significant win for health and economy.

By failing to take swift action before now to regulate these products, policy makers have allowed e-cigarette companies to mislead consumers about the health benefits of their products and hook a new generation of America’s kids and teens...[.]

Mr. Bloomberg has long expressed serious concerns about e-cigarettes and their impact on youth - concerns that we have shared. These concerns have proved to be justified.

This forum shows that we have much more recognition than ever before of the human rights dimensions of tobacco control.

For millions of people addicted to tobacco, the tobacco industry remains one of the main obstacles to improving their standard of health.