Dublin: In a sharp and urgent address at a WHO press conference, Andrew Black, Team Lead and Director of Assistance at the Secretariat of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), called on governments around the world to accelerate the full implementation of the global tobacco treaty—and to confront the tobacco industry’s continuing interference in public health policy.
“Roughly 4.5 trillion cigarette butts are littered every year, making them the most littered item on the planet,” Black said. “And the burden doesn’t stop there—tobacco growing displaces food crops and brings with it devastating environmental costs.”
Black stressed that while progress has been made, the tobacco industry remains the “biggest obstacle” to global public health. He cited industry tactics that include aggressive marketing to youth, undermining evidence-based policy, and efforts to rebrand itself as part of the solution to the crisis it created.
“Even today, the tobacco industry tries to position itself as a partner in health,” he warned. “But its actions speak otherwise—it continues to fight against the very measures that would reduce harm.”
The Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), adopted by more than 180 countries, is the world’s first global health treaty. It sets out evidence-based strategies to reduce tobacco use and industry influence, including advertising bans, tobacco taxation, and protections from industry interference.
Black’s message was clear: full implementation of the treaty is essential—and urgent.
“By fully implementing the provisions of the Framework Convention, we can help millions around the world live healthier, more prosperous lives,” he said. “But this requires more than health ministry action—it demands a whole-of-government approach.”
He also emphasized the need for governments to remain “vigilant” in the face of vested interests, and called for the implementation of the Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products**, a complementary legal instrument to the FCTC.
“The global tobacco epidemic is a multifaceted problem. We can’t solve it from the health sector alone,” Black said. “But through strong political will and coordinated implementation, we can protect future generations, safeguard wellbeing, and accelerate sustainable development.”
