On behalf of the Convention Secretariat, I wish you a happy International Day for Biological Diversity.
The aim of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control is to protect present and future generations from the devastating health, social, environmental and economic consequences of tobacco consumption and exposure to tobacco smoke.
The basis of the discussion here today is also reflected in the obligations that our Parties have under our Convention. Article 18 is concerned with the protection of the environment and health of persons involved in tobacco farming and manufacturing of tobacco products. To enhance this commitment, I had the opportunity to meet with the WHO ADG on Climate and other Determinants of Health and the Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in recent weeks to discuss the relation between tobacco and climate change and future cooperation between our organisations.
Tobacco growing and manufacturing has a negative effect on the environment throughout the tobacco production lifecycle. Let me give you some examples:
- Tobacco-leaf cultivation leads to deforestation due to land clearing, depletion of soil nutrients and contamination of land and water due to extensive use of pesticides, growth regulators and chemical fertilizers.
- Tobacco curing leads to further deforestation due to the high demand for wood to cure tobacco leaves. Apart from the impact on the original forests, it affects ecosystems as the need for wood for curing means additional woodlands are cultivated with non-native trees, with a potential negative impact on the ecology and biodiversity.
- In addition, cigarette production releases 16 million metric tons of carbon dioxide every year globally; this is the equivalent to adding 4 million new cars on the road every year with known effect on climate change.
Dear chair, I would like to emphasize that these severe consequences for our planet are all for a product that kills half of its own consumers. We must work together to save both the health of our people and the health of our planet.
We therefore very much welcome the collaboration between the WHO, our working agency and main partner and the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity and we stand ready to contribute to their Conference of the Parties.
In return I would like to draw your attention to our own Conference of the Parties of the WHO FCTC, the COP8, to be held in Geneva from 1 until 6 October. We will organise a high level segment on the first day of our COP that will focus on tobacco control and global climate action. I would like to take this opportunity to invite you all including the Convention on Biological Diversity to this COP and contribute to this very important discussion.
Thank you for your kind attention.