Seville, July 2, 2025 - The World Health Organization (WHO) launched the "3 to 35" initiative at the UN conference on financing for development. The initiative calls on countries to increase taxes on tobacco, alcohol, and sugary drinks by at least 50% by 2035.
The goal is to reduce consumption of these products, which contribute to diseases like diabetes and certain cancers, and to generate additional revenue for health systems. Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are responsible for over 75% of global deaths.
The "3 to 35" initiative also aims to generate $1 trillion in revenue by 2035. This could help strengthen national health systems, especially in low- and middle-income countries. The initiative is supported by Bloomberg Philanthropies, the World Bank, and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).