In 1987, the World Health Assembly passed Resolution WHA40.38, calling for 7 April 1988 to be “a world no-smoking day.” In 1988, Resolution WHA 42.19 was passed, calling for the celebration of World No Tobacco Day, every year on 31 May. —WHO
According to the WHO, the consumption of tobacco worldwide has a devastating impact on the environment too. In a fact sheet, the world health body highlights that it can be linked to large-scale deforestation, and loss of biodiversity, including wildlife. Apart from the depletion of the planet’s water, it is also responsible for “exhaustion of fossil fuel and metal resources. desertification, depleting soil fertility”, it says.
“Exuberant emission of greenhouse gases, contamination of drinking water, and emission of toxicants in the air via direct, second-and third-hand smoke,” have been counted among other challenges.
According to a statistical report shared by Australia’s cancer council “Around two-thirds of Australian smokers undertook at least one activity to help them quit in 2019, but we know it can be an incredibly challenging task. Implementing an integrated multi-channel, public education campaign would not only motivate and support current smokers to quit, but it would also play an important role in de-normalising tobacco use and discouraging uptake among young people”.
