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sCOPe22’s Success Was Critical Given THR Debates at Next Year’s COP10

World Vape Day on May 30th and World No Tobacco Day on May 31st, were covered by sCOPe’s two-day global broadcast, a livestream simulcast which made its debut last November to cover the WHO’s infamous FCTC COP9.

Diane Caruana

June 13, 2022

“sCOPe22 showed that consumer advocates worldwide are united and highly motivated to fight for millions of smokers’ lives.”

At the time of the broadcast for COP9, the main organizer of sCOPe (streaming Consumers On Point everywhere), CAPHRA, had highlighted that the event is totally independent and non-aligned, and solely organised with the aim of giving a voice to the public. “Before the COVID-19 pandemic, consumers were planning to front up to COP in person and show media our increasing anger for being shut out, once again, from the proceedings. The FCTC’s decision to delay COP9 and host it exclusively online, with no discussions to be publicly released, meant consumers had to take alternative action. Hence, the development of sCOPe,” said CAPHRA Executive Coordinator Nancy Loucas.

Subsequently, the broadcasting event was set up once again to cover World Vape Day and World No Tobacco Day. #sCOPe22 consisted of livestreams by Asia Pacific, African, European, North American and Latin American Tobacco Harm Reduction (THR) consumer advocates for eight hours each day on May 30th and Mat 31st.

“sCOPe22’s success was critical given delegates will be discussing and debating harm reduced products at next year’s COP10. sCOPe22 showed that consumer advocates worldwide are united and highly motivated to fight for millions of smokers’ lives,” said Loucas in a more recent press release.

“Countries represented at COP10 need to fully understand that millions of lives depend on delegates’ substantive discussions and subsequent recommendations on safer nicotine products next year. The red light must turn green – it’s long overdue.” Loucas added that given that the topic of tobacco harm reduction was postponed to COP10, discussions by THR organisations that featured in sCOPe22 such as the European Tobacco Harm Reduction Advocates (ETHRA), Vaping Saved My Life South Africa (VSML), Association of Vapers India (AVI), and the Coalition of Asia Pacific Tobacco Harm Reduction Advocates (CAPHRA) will be crucial.

“THR works. Vaping bans don’t”

“Last year the FCTC kicked the subject for touch, but next year it’s all on. All eyes will be on COP10 to see if delegates start following the evidence not the emotion. THR works. Vaping bans don’t, and THR advocates are keener than ever to expose and change WHO’s fraught position,” she said.

Loucas highlighted that the effectivity of THR is undeniable and that the many personal stories which featured in the livestream were a testament to that. “sCOPe22 uncovered many powerful personal stories of ex-smokers whose lives have been saved by switching to 95% less harmful vaping. Instead of demonizing safer nicotine products, WHO needs to embrace them. Outrageously, WHO’s misguided advice and bullying sees hundreds of millions of smokers still blocked from accessing these life-saving products,” she said.