This Discussion Paper emphasizes the critical role of tobacco control in reducing the impacts of COVID-19, accelerating progress toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and enhancing resilience against pandemics. Jointly prepared by UNDP and the Secretariat of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC), it provides actionable recommendations for national and global efforts, extending beyond the health sector.

The paper underscores the link between tobacco use and severe COVID-19 outcomes, including higher rates of intensive care admissions and deaths. Tobacco's role in exacerbating chronic diseases and increasing vulnerability to various infectious diseases, including COVID-19, is a critical concern. In 2019, tobacco was responsible for 8.7 million deaths, accounting for over 15 percent of global mortality. The paper emphasizes the WHO FCTC's role as a global, evidence-based treaty aimed at protecting current and future generations from the health, social, environmental, and economic consequences of tobacco.

UNDP’s Strategic Plan 2022-2025 and HIV and Health Strategy 2022-2025 include commitments to scale up work with WHO, UNICEF and other partners to strengthen systems for health. Effective implementation of the WHO FCTC is crucial for this, including to tackle the under-recognized links between chronic and infectious disease threats.