The Union is a global leader in the fight against tobacco use.
The Union centres its tobacco control work around the World Health Organization's Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) - an international health treaty - and a package of evidence-based measures proven to reduce tobacco use called MPOWER. Our work has spanned over 50 countries, impacting two-thirds of the world’s smokers. We focus on low- and middle-income countries, where 80 percent of tobacco deaths occur.
Our priority areas of work
The most effective way to reduce tobacco use is through the implementation of comprehensive tobacco control policies that are proven to tackle both supply and demand, like those set-out in the WHO FCTC and MPOWER package of tobacco reduction measures. The Union's work focuses on the priority areas below.
Tobacco advertising
subtitle: The tobacco industry spends billions of dollars on advertising to increase sales
The Union has helped 4.13 billion people in 28 countries through advertising bans.
Our projects
From 2006 to 2023, The Union co-managed the Bloomberg Initiative to Reduce Tobacco Use Grants Program, which awards funds to projects delivering high-impact tobacco control interventions in low- and middle-income countries. In 2019 The Union launched the Global Implementation Programme, which supports cities to effectively implement tobacco control laws, and we are a key partner in STOP, a global tobacco industry watchdog. Both projects are also funded by Bloomberg Philanthropies.
Bloomberg Initiative to Reduce Tobacco Use Grants Program
The Union has managed 495 Bloomberg tobacco control grants in 45 countries.
Where we work
Many low- and middle-income countries, where 80 percent of tobacco-related deaths occur, are faced with rising affordability of tobacco products as well as an aggressive tobacco industry that targets both consumers and governments – so rates of tobacco use continue to rise. The Union has supported over 50 countries worldwide to implement tobacco control policies, impacting billions of people.
Tobacco Control Factsheets
The Union’s Tobacco Control Department has produced five factsheets on critical aspects of tobacco control: COVID-19 and Tobacco; E-cigarettes, Heated Tobacco Products, and the Need for Bans in LMICs; Tobacco Control Implementation and Enforcement; Novel Products, Young People, and Policy; and Tobacco Vendor Licensing. These factsheets offer a deep dive into specific topics, summarizing evidence, defining key terms, and providing practical guidance and evidence-based recommendations.
Tobacco Control Publications
The Union produces publications and resources to support governments and civil society working to reduce tobacco use. These support the implementation of evidence-based tobacco control policies; and provide guidance on complex new issues for tobacco control, such as e-cigarettes, to spark debate leading to further research and action. Find all Union publications.
3.69bn
people in 37 countries through smokefree laws
3.87bn
people in 28 countries through higher tobacco tax
3.29bn
people in 32 countries through graphic health warnings
1.18bn
people in 30 countries where tobacco industry interference in government now faces restrictions
4.13bn
people in 28 countries through advertising bans
The latest news on tobacco control
Nicotine’s new frontier: Why we can’t let big tobacco set the agenda
When the modern e-cigarette first appeared in Shenzhen two decades ago, its inventor, Hon Lik, imagined a cleaner route out of…
Luther Terry Award 2025 winners reflect on progress and challenges in tobacco control
As we mark World No Tobacco Day, recipients of the 2025 Luther L. Terry Awards reflect on the progress made since the World Conference…
Fiscal Policy could be the key to progress in tobacco control – but policy inertia threatens this
Once again, we find ourselves at a turning point in tobacco control. The continued resurgence of the tobacco industry alongside a…
New Head of Programme joins the Union India Office
The Union has announced Dr Archana Beri as the new Head of Programme of the Union India Office.
Archana is a physician-scientist, clinical microbiologist and public health leader with over two decades of experience strengthening diagnostic and laboratory systems globally.
Inhaled Medicines Intervention Statement 79th World Health Assembly
The Union hosted an official side event at the 79th World Health Assembly, titled 'From Global Commitments to Integrated Lung Health Action: Advancing early diagnosis of lung cancer and access to inhaled medicines for COPD and asthma'. The session was co-hosted with the Ministry of Health Malaysia, Forum of International Respiratory Societies (FIRS) and Union for International Cancer Control.
During the side event, Cassandra Kelly-Cirino delivered the following intervention on behalf of The Union and FIRS.
The Union joins global coalition tackling oxygen inequity
The Union has become an official member of the Global Oxygen Alliance (GO2AL), a collaborative effort to ensure safe, affordable and equitable access to medical oxygen for those in need.
International Nurses' Day: Our Nurses. Our Future. Empowered Nurses Save Lives
On this International Nurses Day, we celebrate the extraordinary nurses who stand at the frontline of care.
Empowered nurses are…
Important step forward in UK tobacco control
As global health leaders, hosts of the World Conference on Tobacco Control 2025 and authors of the Dublin Declaration, The Union…
Compliance with intermittent preventive malaria treatment in pregnancy at a tertiary hospital in Sierra Leone
In this article, part of the TB, HIV and Malaria Series to be published in the Q2 issue of PHA, the authors examine uptake of intermittent preventive treatment in pregnancy in Sierra Leone, showing low compliance with the recommended minimum of three doses, largely associated with insufficient antenatal care contacts.
Parenteral artesunate compliance and hospital outcomes in children under-five with suspected severe malaria in Sierra Leone
In this article, part of the TB, HIV and Malaria Series to be published in the Q2 issue of PHA, the authors assess adherence to national severe malaria management guidelines in children under five in Sierra Leone and its association with hospital outcomes, highlighting suboptimal artesunate dosing and related adverse outcomes.
Mapping Malaria Hotspots through Spatial and Spatio-Temporal Analysis in Sierra Leone, 2021-2024
In this article part of the TB, HIV and Malaria Series to be published in the Q2 issue of PHA, the authors analyse the spatial and temporal distribution of malaria in Sierra Leone, identifying persistent hotspots and no significant association with rainfall. The findings highlight the need for targeted, subnational interventions to address persistent hotspots.
“Game-changing” TB escape room shows early impact on health-seeking behaviour
The Union’s Advocacy, Communications and Social Mobilization (ACSM) team worked closely with a small team of game designers, coders and artists to develop a first-of-kind TB-themed virtual escape room to promote health-seeking behaviour.
Community ownership driving TB free villages
Even if a country’s TB programme perfects service delivery, TB won’t end until grassroots communities are empowered to…
Leveraging the exemplary efforts of community health officers
In Himachal Pradesh, the ACSM team is supporting the State TB programme to empower community health officers to take…
Students take the lead on TB education in their schools, homes and communities
In the densely populated State of Madhya Pradesh, where there is a high burden of TB, the ACSM team is working…
Annual Union Values award winner: Alpha Panda
Since 1920, The Union has been at the centre of the fight against tuberculosis (TB) and lung disease. Along the way The Union became…
Annual Union Values award winner: Thazin
Since 1920, The Union has been at the centre of the fight against tuberculosis (TB) and lung disease. Along the way The Union…
Annual Union Values award winner: Madhava Sai Sivapuram
Since 1920, The Union has been at the centre of the fight against tuberculosis (TB) and lung disease. Along the way The Union…
From training to impact: Improving childhood TB notification in Lesotho
Mpho Matlotliso Maketekete Khesa is the Programme Childhood TB and Training Coordinator at the Ministry of Health in Lesotho, where she…
Accelerating an end to TB in urban India
In close collaboration with national and local partners, The Union is leading two initiatives designed to accelerate the elimination of…
As part of the Tobacco Control Section, Union members work closely to organise webinars on varied tobacco control topics of interest to international audience, and assist tobacco control implementers and advocates with policy making in their countries, and contribute to the scientific programme of The Union World Lung Conference.