World No Tobacco Day 2023: Not only health but tobacco harms environment too; know how

Smoking is injurious to health and causes cancer. You must have seen this warning on television or in movie theatres before a film begins. In spite of this, people continue to smoke, chew tobacco or paan masala and pollute the surroundings.

Tobacco not only harms our health but also causes damage to the environment. The production and distribution of tobacco has a long term effect on environment.

World No Tobacco Day 2023 theme

Keeping the goal of environmental protection in mind, the theme for World No Tobacco Day 2023 is We Need Food, Not Tobacco.

According to WHO, the harmful impact of the tobacco industry on the environment is vast and adds unnecessary pressure to our planet's already scarce resources and fragile ecosystems.

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Every year, 35 lakh hectares of land are cleared for growing tobacco. Approximately 84 mega tonnes of carbon dioxide are generated by the tobacco industry and around 90 per cent of tobacco is grown in developing countries like India. Tobacco is seen as a cash crop in low- and middle-income countries and also as a way of developing the economy of the country.

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According to WHO, a decreased use of tobacco can prove beneficial in achieving sustainable development goals.