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Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Global tobacco experts issue stark warning that the world is on brink of turning into an 'ashtray planet' that will significantly escalate chronic respiratory diseases
Twenty leading tobacco-control experts contributed to first-of-its-kind report visualising possible 2040 futures around nicotine consumption impact on diseases like asthma and COPD Report warns world could steer towards doomsday 'ashtray planet' scenario shrouded in second-hand smoke smog, with healthcare systems stretched to limits It calls for immediate action from health decision makers to persevere with generational bans, restrict nicotine to prescription only, and ban vape flavours or attractive packaging COPENHAGEN, Denmark, May 30, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Copenhagen Institute for Futures Studies (CIFS), an independent non-profit think tank, gathered twenty tobacco-control specialists from Africa, Europe, the Middle East, North America, South America, and Southeast Asia, to explore four plausible futures to 2040 around nicotine use and the impact this will have on chronic respiratory diseases. Findings from the experts have been published in a first-of-its-kind report to analyse how tobacco and nicotine use could intersect chronic respiratory diseases like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma. The report highlights four possible scenarios for 2040 depending on actions government, health decision makers and individuals take now around nicotine use. The experts were gathered to explore potential future scenarios and to highlight a course toward one 'endgame generation' scenario we must strive to significantly reduce nicotine use and improve chronic respiratory disease outcomes. At the same time, they also identified tipping points, which closely reflect the current geopolitical climate that risk steering the world to the worst-case scenario the experts deemed 'ashtray planet' by 2040. In the 'ashtray planet' scenario, tobacco and nicotine use has become deeply entrenched across much of the world. Second-hand smoke and aerosol are common in public spaces with people smoking on public transport, outside hospitals, or even in parks where children play. People begin wearing masks again, not for viruses, but to cope with outdoor smoke and smog. COPD and asthma become significantly more prevalent stretching health systems to the limit, not to mention the mental health burden on both patients and their caregivers. Health care professionals do little more than renew basic prescriptions, driving a revolving door of readmissions. A surge in undiagnosed asthma leads to attacks with often fatal consequences that could have been prevented among children, disproportionately affecting those in low and middle-income countries. Aron Szpisjak, Head of Health and Futurist at CIFS said: "Chronic respiratory diseases like asthma and COPD affect 550 million adults yet they are almost invisible in global health discussions. Tobacco is the leading preventable risk factor for these conditions, contributing to 8.3 million deaths every year." "With the risk of governments catering to corporate interests and economic survival dominating national agendas, what we saw as the doomsday scenario now feels dangerously close to being realised. We still have time to shape the future and steer us on the right course to an endgame where nicotine consumption is reduced significantly, and chronic respiratory diseases begin to decline. We already have the solutions to get us there and avert the ashtray planet scenario. But that can only happen if decision makers across the world commit to sustained, coordinated action." The report describes early warning signals, policy shifts and trends which could indicate the 'ashtray planet' scenario is beginning to unfold and underscores the urgency for action. For example, when more immediate crises such as economic instability, authoritarian politics, worsening environmental disasters, and mounting inequality lead governments to prioritise economic survival over public health resulting in rollbacks of tobacco-control regulations. Another example is the rise of newer nicotine products such as e-cigarettes, which rapidly gain popularity through social media and celebrity influence, particularly among young people. Chronic respiratory diseases impose a significant burden, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, where 90% of premature deaths occur due to underdiagnosis and limited access to care. In the scenario most closely resembling a status quo where developed countries do enact strong tobacco-control policies and uptake of new nicotine products is limited, the report highlights that positive outcomes may remain uneven. This is particularly the case in underserved regions where public trust in government and health institutions is low and there are varying abilities to adapt policies to local realities. Bogi Eliasen, CIFS Fellow and Futurist , said: "High smoking rates jeopardise our progress towards the Sustainable Development Goal of aiming to reduce premature mortality from non-communicable diseases. While smoking rates are dropping, progress is slow and insufficient. Delaying action further risks slowing progress, making tobacco use harder to reverse, and missing a critical opportunity to protect millions of people." "We have seen positive signs with the recent approval of the Integrated Lung Health resolution at the World Health Assembly, but there is still work to be done to ensure chronic respiratory diseases maintain priority status. As world leaders gather at the United Nations General Assembly in September this year to adopt a new declaration on non-communicable diseases later this year, they must take strong action on tobacco control and ensure people living with chronic respiratory diseases are meaningfully included in the commitments." The report includes strategic actions for policy makers, public health bodies, and patient and advocacy groups. Immediate priorities include strengthening tobacco control by persevering with action such as generational bans, restricting new nicotine products to prescription only access, and limiting appeal by banning flavours and attractive packaging. The full report is available online: Notes to Editors About the report The Future of Chronic Respiratory Diseases (CRDs) and Nicotine Consumption: Beyond Smoke and Mirrors report was developed in a two-phase approach. The first phase combined desk research and expert interviews to generate the evidence base, complemented with an AI model built by the CIFS team which included 4,000 peer-reviewed articles and policy documents. To ensure the integrity of the evidence base, studies linked to the tobacco industry were excluded. The second phase comprised two co-creation workshops that convened more than 20 tobacco-control specialists from Africa, Europe, the Middle East, North America, South America, and Southeast Asia. Participants were selected both for the relevance of their expertise and to ensure a diversity of viewpoints. In the first workshop, the experts identified critical uncertainties to structure the four future scenarios. In workshop two, participants revisited the four draft scenarios to explore early warning signs and tipping points suggesting that a particular trajectory is beginning to unfold, and the strategic trade-offs stakeholders may face. This report was commissioned by Sanofi and Regeneron. CIFS independently conducted the research, expert interviews, workshop facilitation, and the development of all scenarios and recommendations. While Sanofi and Regeneron provided financial support, CIFS maintained full editorial independence. Neither the Copenhagen Institute for Futures Studies nor Sanofi and Regeneron have any affiliation with the tobacco or nicotine industry. About the Copenhagen Institute for Futures Studies (CIFS) The Copenhagen Institute for Futures Studies is an independent, non-profit think tank established in 1969, on the initiative by former Danish Minister and OECD Secretary-General Professor Thorkil Kristensen. Our purpose is to help people and organisations imagine, work with, and shape their future. We do this by applying our unique approach to futures studies and foresight, combined with more than 50 years of global experience and contributions to the field, working with organisations across the public, private, academic, and civic sectors, as well as with the general public. Being independent of commercial and political interests enables an objective approach and allows for all profits to go exclusively to fund further research and non-profit initiatives. Logo - View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Copenhagen Institute for Futures Studies (CIFS)
Associated Press
06-05-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Atsign Supercharges File Sharing with Invisible SMB/CIFS Connections
SAN JOSE, Calif., May 06, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Atsign, the leader in invisible zero trust connectivity solutions, today announced that its NoPorts technology now supports invisible SMB/CIFS connections. This breakthrough enables users to access file servers remotely with unparalleled security and ease, regardless of network configurations, including those with Carrier-Grade NAT (CGNAT). By eliminating open ports, NoPorts makes SMB/CIFS endpoints completely invisible to attackers scanning the internet for vulnerabilities, completely eliminating the attack surface. SMB/CIFS (Server Message Block/Common Internet File System) is a widely used protocol for sharing files across networks. However, traditional SMB/CIFS implementations require open ports, making them vulnerable to attack. NoPorts eliminates this vulnerability by creating secure, encrypted tunnels that do not require any open ports. This innovative approach ensures that SMB/CIFS communication is not exposed to the internet, enhancing security. Overcoming CGNAT Challenges NoPorts, built on Atsign's atPlatform , uses an unique addressing system—one that works independently of IP addresses— which is particularly beneficial in environments where CGNAT is present, such as those using Starlink, cellular networks, and other services that rely on shared IP addresses. While CGNAT places multiple users behind a single public IP address, making direct inbound connections impossible, NoPorts address system enables zero trust connections as illustrated in a recent case study involving a rural estate management company in Scotland: Challenge - The company's transition to Starlink introduced CGNAT, breaking their existing DDNS-based remote access to a Windows 11 file server and Synology NAS devices. Solution - By implementing NoPorts, the company established secure, encrypted connections for SMB/CIFS access, Synology Drive Client synchronization, and RDP access – all without requiring open ports. Benefits Restored reliable remote access to essential file server resources. Enhanced security through NoPorts' encrypted connections. Improved connection resiliency, even during Starlink handoffs. Key Features and Benefits of NoPorts for SMB/CIFS: Invisible Connections - No open ports are required, making SMB/CIFS connections invisible to potential attackers. End-to-End Encryption - All data transmitted through NoPorts is securely encrypted. CGNAT Compatibility - NoPorts bypasses the limitations of CGNAT, enabling remote access in challenging network environments. IP Address Agnostic - NoPorts works independently of IP addresses, ensuring connectivity even with dynamic IPs. Simplified Network Management - Eliminates the complexity and security risks associated with firewalls, NAT, and port forwarding. Cryptographic Authentication - Ensures that only authorized devices can connect, adding an additional layer of security before any data is transmitted. Atsign's Commitment to Invisible Connectivity This latest innovation builds upon Atsign's ongoing commitment to providing zero trust connections across the Internet. Atsign's NoPorts technology already supports invisible connections for a wide range of protocols and applications, including: SSH RDP IoT Websites APIs Local AI Models Cloud Infrastructure 'We are excited to extend the benefits of NoPorts to SMB/CIFS users,' said Barbara Tallent, CEO at Atsign. 'By eliminating the need for open ports, we are providing a more secure and reliable way to share files remotely, regardless of network complexities.' About NoPorts NoPorts eliminates network & security vulnerabilities by securing connections between people, entities, and things making them invisible to would-be attackers by eliminating attack network surfaces. Built on Atsign's atPlatform, NoPorts provides a zero trust architecture, end-to-end encryption, and no reliance on cumbersome security layers, enabling seamless and secure communication across virtually any environment. Organizations gain scalability, operational efficiency, and stronger security—all while reducing costs and complexity. For more information, visit About Atsign At Atsign, we believe that people, entities, and things—including AI—should connect securely and directly, while always being invisible to bad actors. By eliminating the need for open ports and centralized servers, the atPlatform empowers developers and organizations to build applications with 'invisible' security built in, placing data and device control back into the hands of their owners. Atsign is the creator of the atPlatform, the most robust infrastructure available for 'invisible networking' and secure, private, peer-to-peer connectivity. Learn more at For More Information Contact Scott Hetherington Atsign [email protected] 844-827-0985
Associated Press
06-05-2025
- Health
- Associated Press
New Data in the Severe Asthma Index Underscore Global Inequality in Severe Asthma prevention and care
On World Asthma Day 2025, Copenhagen Institute for Futures Studies announces a major expansion of the Severe Asthma Index. COPENHAGEN, DENMARK, May 6, 2025 / / -- This new update includes Argentina, Brazil, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Egypt, India, Israel, The Kingdom of Saudia Arabia, Mexico, Peru, South Africa, and the UAE. For the new countries, more than 1000 additional data points have been analysed and validated by national health experts, underlining the nuanced picture of severe asthma. The Index now consists of 3139 data points in total describing policy, access and care, health system, disease burden and environmental factors. Despite growing global focus on Asthma, this serious chronic respiratory condition continues to claim lives and burden health systems around the world. Every year, an estimated 455,000 deaths are attributed to asthma, most of them preventable with the right treatment and awareness of symptoms. To help address this challenge, the Copenhagen Institute for Futures Studies (CIFS) have created the Severe Asthma Index - a unique data-driven tool that evaluates how countries prevent, diagnose, and manage severe asthma. The goal of the Index is to provide a comprehensive overview of national performance and help inform more effective data-driven respiratory health policies. 'The Severe Asthma Index exposes a hard truth: we already have the science, the medicines, and the guidelines. What we lack is implementation at scale. People are still dying because severe asthma is under-recognised, affordable controller drugs and biologics are out of reach for many, and air-quality, housing, and tobacco policies remain disconnected from health goals.' says Aron Szpisjak, Head of Health at the Copenhagen Institute for Futures Studies. The expansion of the Severe Asthma Index particularly focuses on Latin America, where in many countries Severe Asthma is not formally recognized and even a few regulatory changes could prevent thousands of needless hospitalisations. This will be elaborated in the upcoming Spanish report on Severe Asthma in Latin America. The expansion of the severe asthma index is accompanied by 4 strategic calls to action to help policy makers go from what needs to be done and instead focus on how to do it: • Advance prevention and early intervention by addressing environmental triggers and ensuring timely access to treatment • Strengthen coherent long-term strategies through international collaboration to implement clinical guidelines based on global best practices • Improve severe asthma reporting by adopting standardised data collection methods and expanding the use of electronic health records to support evidence-based health system responses • Empower patients through education initiatives that raise awareness of asthma and support self-management Read more in the Severe Asthma index report, interact with our data and explore each country ranking and profile at . The Severe Asthma Index has been developed and expanded with unrestricted support from Sanofi and Regeneron. Toke Hanghøj Copenhagen Institute for Futures Studies +45 26 25 80 44 email us here Legal Disclaimer: EIN Presswire provides this news content 'as is' without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.
Associated Press
28-02-2025
- Health
- Associated Press
Copenhagen Institute for Futures Studies Announces Leadership Changes in Health Team
Aron Szpisjak taking over as head of the health team as Bogi Eliasen moves on to lead Movement Health Foundation as Executive Director. COPENHAGEN, DENMARK, February 28, 2025 / / -- Effective March 1st, Aron assumes leadership of CIFS's health activities and responsibility for the team's daily operations. The management team fully supports Aron's candidature, recognising his readiness to build upon the strong foundation established in the health portfolio. Copenhagen Institute for Futures Studies looks forward to Aron's leadership in advancing innovative health initiatives and expanding the institute's influence in the global health landscape. 'Aron brings the perfect combination of vision, execution and foresight capabilities to lead our health team into its next chapter,' says CEO Daria (Dasha) Krivonos. 'We are confident that under his guidance, our health portfolio will continue to thrive and develop ambitious approaches to address complex health challenges.' This transition comes as Bogi Eliasen, who joined CIFS in 2014, accepts the role of Executive Director at Movement Health Foundation, which CIFS co-founded in 2020 with Siemens, Microsoft, and Roche. Under Bogi's leadership, CIFS established itself as a thought leader through initiatives such as Nordic Health 2030 and the Respiratory Health Initiative. Throughout 2025, CIFS aims for a smooth transition between Bogi Eliasen and Aron Szpisjak. Bogi retains his position as a Fellow at CIFS, and the collaboration continues in his new capacity—a case of old faces in new places. 'We are excited about Aron and the team shaping the vision for the future of our health efforts going forward and equally pleased that our partnership with Bogi will continue in his new role at Movement Health,' adds Daria Krivonos. 'This evolution represents the collaborative spirit that has always defined our approach to addressing global health challenges.' 26258044 Legal Disclaimer:
