Tobacco kills 8.7 million people every year, including up to half its users in addition to non-users exposed to deadly second-hand smoke. The burden of tobacco reaches far beyond health, weakening the economy, disrupting social systems and damaging the environment. Low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) bear a greater portion of the global burden, with over 80% of tobacco users living in LMICs. 

Without adequate investment in tobacco control it is estimated that up to 1 billion people could die from tobacco-related diseases during this century alone.

Urgent and whole-of government action is needed to tackle the tobacco burden, calling for a response from all government sectors. This brief is part of a set of 13 provided by UNDP that map out roles and first steps different parts of government can take to help achieve the SDGs by reducing tobacco use.

Parliamentarians can take key steps to advance tobacco control and accelerate progress towards the SDGs. This includes calling for legislation on and enforcement of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) and achieving implementation of the Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products, ensuring an effective multisectoral tobacco control response, and promoting parliamentary debate on tobacco control. Parliamentarians also stand to benefit from tobacco control – the costs of scaling-up tobacco control through WHO FCTC implementation are very low compared to their burden, while the returns are massive.