Tobacco Control at The Union



United for a tobacco-free future because:
  • 50% of all deaths from lung disease are linked to tobacco
  • 80% of smokers live in low- and middle-income countries
  • 520 million people will die from tobacco use in the next 50 years
  • By 2030 the number of deaths from tobacco each year will increase from 5 million to more than 8 million

The Union works to cut tobacco use and save lives by:
  • Promoting effective tobacco control policy through technical resources
  • Training a new generation of managers and practitioners
  • Supporting effective programmes through grants
  • Building knowledge for action through research
 The Way Forward 14th World Conference on Tobacco or Health - March 8th - 12th 2009, Mumbai, India
 39th Union World Conference on Lung Health

For information on the 39th Union World Conference on Lung Health visit www.worldlunghealth.org

Most workers worldwide still exposed to secondhand tobacco smoke

 Working for Smokefree Air

Despite rapid expansion of smokefree laws since 2004, most workers around the world are still exposed to tobacco smoke....Read more

Landmark report released

7 Feb 2008: The Global Tobacco Control Report from the World Health Organisation names tobacco as the leading cause of preventable death worldwide; urges countries to implement MPOWER - a policy package proven to cut tobacco use, save lives. Read the report

Raise bidi tax: save six million lives

75% of all tobacco smoked in India is in the form of bidis. A new Union report by world-leading economist Emil Sunley recommends increasing tax on bidis in India, saving six million lives.

Read the report (pdf 400 kb) Sunley Bidi Tax Report

Management courses

The Union is training a new generation of leaders and managers for tobacco control in low- and middle-income countries. Click here to read more