• Majority of adults surveyed believe science can solve critical global challenges.
• However, only half of respondents believe governments are doing a good job in leveraging science to inform decisions.
Contacts
David Fraser
Philip Morris International
T. +41 (0)79 843 8603
E. david.fraser@pmi.com
• However, only half of respondents believe governments are doing a good job in leveraging science to inform decisions.
LAUSANNE, Switzerland-Monday 14 September 2020 [ AETOS Wire ]
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200914005316/en/
(BUSINESS WIRE) -- Philip Morris International Inc. (PMI) (NYSE: PM) today released “In Support of the Primacy of Science,” a
white paper exploring international attitudes regarding the role of
science in society, business, and policymaking. The white
paper—presenting findings from an independent survey, conducted by
Povaddo for PMI, of over 19,000 adults across 19 countries and
territories—indicates that citizens around the world want governments,
public authorities, and private businesses to prioritize science and
facts when tackling critical issues.
The
global insights reveal that faith in science is high, with most people
surveyed (77 percent) hopeful that advances in science will solve many
of society’s biggest problems. Supporting this view, there is also
strong interest in businesses prioritizing science, with 90 percent of
respondents saying it is important to them that businesses invest
continually in science to improve their products.
Despite
these positive attitudes, nearly half of respondents (47 percent)
believe that society does not place enough importance on science. Given
the diverging opinions, the white paper challenges the need for
regulators to place greater focus on science to inform policy decisions,
with half (51 percent) of respondents believing that their “government
does a good job ensuring science and evidence are included in the
decision-making process.”
“Science
can help make significant strides in our collective efforts to address
the world’s most pressing problems” said Dr. Moira Gilchrist, vice
president for Strategic & Scientific Communications at PMI.
“Unfortunately, governments and broader society have yet to embrace
science at its fullest potential, as this global survey shows. Ensuring
facts and evidence are given greater prominence in policymaking—over
ideology, politics, and unsubstantiated beliefs—will help match the
public’s expectations for science to sit at the heart of decisions
impacting them and their future.”
The
survey also reveals that people’s access to accurate scientific
information is far from assured today, with nearly half of the total
sample indicating that they find it difficult to access reliable
information about scientific developments and relevant studies.
“This
finding is alarming and sends a clear signal across business, media,
and government that accurately communicating scientific information
should remain an important priority,” added Dr. Gilchrist. “When
reliable scientific information is in short supply, misinformation, wild
guesses, and hearsay can take more space and significantly hamper
people’s ability to make informed decisions.”
PMI
is undergoing a fundamental transformation into a science- and
technology-led company with the aim of delivering a smoke-free future—a
future without cigarettes. With the right regulatory encouragement and
support from civil society, we believe this goal can be achieved in many
countries in 10 to 15 years. Science is central to delivering on this
commitment. Since 2008, PMI has invested billions of dollars in
developing, testing, and manufacturing better alternatives to cigarettes
for adults who would otherwise continue to smoke. These products are
the result of nearly two decades of R&D work, underpinned by a
rigorous scientific assessment program and led by a team that today
includes more than 430 world-class scientists and other experts. We make
our scientific findings and methods available for others to scrutinize,
we invite independent research into our products, and we encourage a
broad, science-based conversation with regulators, scientists, and the
public health community about these better alternatives and the role
they can play in tobacco control and harm reduction.
To read the “In Support of the Primacy of Science” paper, visit https://www.pmi.com/primacyofscience.
Survey Methodology
Povaddo
conducted this online survey on behalf of PMI between June 25 and July
8, 2020. The survey was fielded among 19,100 general population adults
ages 21 and older in 19 countries and territories: Argentina, Australia,
Brazil, Germany, Hong Kong, Israel, Italy, Japan, Mexico, the
Netherlands, Norway, the Philippines, Russia, South Africa, South Korea,
Taiwan, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Vietnam. For the
overall sample, there is a margin of error of +/- 0.72% at the 95%
confidence interval.
Philip Morris International: Delivering a Smoke-Free Future
Philip
Morris International (PMI) is leading a transformation in the tobacco
industry to create a smoke-free future and ultimately replace cigarettes
with smoke-free products to the benefit of adults who would otherwise
continue to smoke, society, the company, and its shareholders. PMI is a
leading international tobacco company engaged in the manufacture and
sale of cigarettes, as well as smoke-free products and associated
electronic devices and accessories, and other nicotine-containing
products in markets outside the United States. PMI ships a version of
its smoke-free devices and consumables authorized by the U.S. Food and
Drug Administration to Altria Group, Inc. for sale in the United States
under license. PMI is building a future on a new category of smoke-free
products that, while not risk-free, are a much better choice than
continuing to smoke. Through multidisciplinary capabilities in product
development, state-of-the-art facilities, and scientific substantiation,
PMI aims to ensure that its smoke-free products meet adult consumer
preferences and rigorous regulatory requirements. For more information,
please visit www.pmi.com and www.pmiscience.com.
Contacts
David Fraser
Philip Morris International
T. +41 (0)79 843 8603
E. david.fraser@pmi.com
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