World No Tobacco Day

Observance of "World No Tobacco day"

Today, World No Tobacco Day is also celebrated across the globe. This day is celebrated on May 31st at the call of the World Health Organization to minimize the damage caused by Tobacco and controlling tobacco products.

Did you know? In Nepal, more than 25,000 people die every year due to tobacco. One out of every 10 adults in the world dies prematurely due to Tobacco. The theme of World No Tobacco Day 2025 as: “Unmasking the Appeal: Exposing Industry Tactics on Tobacco and Nicotine Products”

With an annual greenhouse gas contribution of 84 megatons carbon dioxide equivalent, the tobacco industry contributes to climate change and reduces climate resilience, wasting resources and damaging ecosystems.

Around 3.5 million hectares of land are destroyed for tobacco growing each year. Growing tobacco contributes to deforestation, especially in the developing world. of Deforestation for tobacco plantations promotes soil degradation and “failing yields” or the capacity for the land to support the growth of any other crops or vegetation.

“The environmental impacts of tobacco using adds unnecessary pressure to our planet’s already scarce resources and fragile ecosystems. This is especially dangerous for developing countries, as that’s where most of the tobacco production happens.” said Dr Ruediger Krech, Director of Health Promotion, “Every cigarette you smoke, you are literally burning resources where they are already scarce, burning resources where our very existence depends upon.”

The environmental burden falls on countries least able to cope with it, the profits are made by transnational tobacco companies that are based in higher-income countries.

-Suyog Dhakal