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It’s World No Tobacco Day – Here Are 9 Things You Need To Know Before You Light Up Next

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It is International No Tobacco Day – and while many people like to enjoy their morning cigarette with a cup of coffee, its harm to the environment and humans alike is unprecedented.

As part of the international day, the World Health Organisation has released a detailed campaign called ‘Poisoning Our Planet’ on the damage that tobacco production inflicts on the Earth.

The impact of the tobacco industry on the environment is said to be vast – and it is also adding even more pressure on our planet’s already limited resources and struggling ecosystems.

 

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Here are nine things you need to keep in mind before you light up next:

1. According to the WHO, tobacco kills over eight million people every year and destroys our environment, further harming human health, through cultivation, production, distribution, consumption, and post-consumer waste.

2. Every year, 600,000,000 trees are chopped down to make cigarettes.

3. Apart from that, 84,000,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions per year are released into the air, in turn contributing to the rise in global temperatures.

4. A whopping 22,000,000,000 tonnes of water is used to make cigarettes on a yearly basis.

5. And for those that tend to discard their cigarette butts in an inappropriate manner, they can take up to 10 whole years to decompose, due to the plastic fibres within the filter.

6. Tobacco causes untold damage across the environment

“Tobacco growing, manufacturing and use poison our water, soil, beaches and city streets with chemicals, toxic waste, cigarette butts, including microplastics, and e-cigarette waste.”

“Don’t fall for the tobacco industry’s attempt to try and distract from its environmental harms by greenwashing their products through donations to sustainability initiatives and reporting on environmental ‘standards’ they often set themselves.”

7. The tobacco industry often fails to clean up its mess

“The tobacco industry is making profit by destroying the environment and needs to be held accountable for the environmental destruction and made to pay for the waste and damages, including to recover the cost of collecting these wastes.”

8. Quitting tobacco could help save our planet

“Every cigarette smoked or tobacco product used wastes precious resources that our existence depends on. Quit tobacco for your health and the health of our planet. Tobacco smoke contributes to higher air pollution levels and contains three kinds of greenhouse gases.”

9. And it will help tobacco farmers switch to sustainable crops

“Governments and policymakers should support tobacco farmers to switch to alternative, more sustainable livelihoods to reduce the environmental impact of tobacco growing, curing and manufacturing while continuing to implement tobacco control measures.”

Would you be up for trying to cut tobacco out? 

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Sasha is a writer, creator, and podcast host interested in environmental matters, humans, and art. Some know her as Sasha tas-Sigar. Inspired by nature and the changing world. Follow her on Instagram at @saaxhaa and send her your stories at [email protected]

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