The Taxpayers Protection Alliance (TPA) recently hosted a “Countdown to COP11” webinar, assembling leading experts to examine the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) and its shortcomings over the past two decades. Moderated by Martin Cullip, the panel featured David Williams (TPA), Roger Bate (ICLE), and Clive Bates (Counterfactual), who collectively highlighted the WHO’s lack of accountability, transparency, and scientific rigour in tobacco policy.

David Williams opened by underscoring the TPA’s concerns regarding the WHO’s use of taxpayer funds, pointing out the organisation’s increasing budget and lack of transparency. He criticised the secretive nature of COP meetings, where only favourable media are admitted and observers are excluded, contrary to the intended openness of such taxpayer-funded gatherings.

Williams also shared a personal story about his father, a heavy smoker who lacked alternatives, lamenting that the WHO’s current stance on tobacco harm reduction means millions today are still denied access to life-saving innovations. He argued that “there is no reason why we are not embracing this innovation,” and stressed the importance of holding the WHO accountable, with initiatives like TPA’s “GoodCOP/BadCOP” providing live fact-checking and amplifying expert and consumer voices.

Ignoring Science, Excluding Stakeholders

Clive Bates and Roger Bate both highlighted the WHO’s repeated failure to adopt pragmatic, harm reduction-based strategies. Bates noted that the WHO and FCTC have promoted prohibitionist policies and celebrated bans without considering trade-offs or unintended consequences. He criticised the exclusion of consumers and legitimate stakeholders from the policy process, while proxy advocacy groups are given a platform. Bates described this as a “fanaticism which hurts people,” arguing that public health should be open-minded and curious about solutions, not closed to viewpoint diversity.

Roger Bate added that the WHO’s structure and funding, from member states and private donors like Bill Gates and Michael Bloomberg, have led to policies that appease donors rather than serve public health. He called for comprehensive reform, though he expressed scepticism about the likelihood of meaningful change without pressure from member states.

The Need for Reform and Inclusion

A recurring theme was the urgent need to include all stakeholders in tobacco control policymaking, especially consumers. The TPA’s “GoodCOP/BadCOP” initiative, set to continue at COP11 in Geneva from 17–22 November 2025, aims to provide a platform for real-time fact-checking and to ensure that those most affected by COP decisions are finally heard.

As the World Vapers’ Alliance, we stand united with those calling for transparency, scientific integrity, and genuine stakeholder engagement at COP11. For too long, the WHO has ignored robust evidence and the real-world experiences of millions who have successfully quit smoking through vaping and other harm reduction products. This approach not only undermines public health but also silences the very people most affected by these policies.

We believe it is essential that the voices of consumers are finally heard. At COP11 in Geneva, we will be there to ensure that decision-makers cannot ignore the evidence supporting tobacco harm reduction or the rights of adults to access safer alternatives.

We know that embracing harm reduction saves lives – just look at Sweden’s success in reducing smoking rates. We will continue to challenge misinformation and demand that the WHO returns to its founding purpose: protecting health through innovation, inclusion, and evidence-based policy.