Global Declaration on NCDs and Mental Health
On 16 December 2025, world leaders adopted a new UN Political Declaration on noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) and mental health, marking a major global milestone for prevention and health equity. For tobacco control, the Declaration provides a clear political mandate, concrete global targets, and renewed momentum that closely align with JA-SAFE’s objectives.
The Declaration is the first UN political declaration to address NCDs and mental health together, recognising shared risk factors and social determinants. Crucially, it introduces the first-ever global “fast-track” outcome targets for 2030, including 150 million fewer tobacco users worldwide. This elevates tobacco reduction from a long-standing aspiration to a measurable global deliverable.
From a tobacco control perspective, the Declaration:
- Reinforces strong regulation of tobacco, e-cigarettes and novel nicotine products, acknowledging the rapid evolution of the market and the need for policy responses that keep pace.
- Strengthens whole-of-government approaches, explicitly linking prevention, regulation, and protection from the commercial determinants of health.
- Emphasises accountability and financing, with progress to be reviewed ahead of the next UN High-Level Meeting, supported by WHO.
Overall, the Declaration reinforces the strategic relevance of JA-SAFE at EU level and confirms that the Joint Action is directly contributing to the delivery of globally agreed NCD and tobacco reduction objectives.