Thread

In 2024, 3.26 million hectares of land were harvested for tobacco worldwide. Land that could be growing food. Tobacco farming drives up to 5% of annual deforestation in low and middle income countries. It demands enormous quantities of fresh water. It strips nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium from the soil faster than most food or cash crops. And curing the leaf means burning timber, releasing greenhouse gases. Tobacco damages the environment long before anyone lights it. WHO is committed to supporting countries by facilitating economically viable alternatives for tobacco growers, while protecting human health and the environment from the damage caused by tobacco cultivation. This is one figure. Read the full report: