Smoking has hazardous effects on health and also is detrimental to the environment, says President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih.

The president said this in a statement issued on World No Tobacco Day, urging smokers to quit.

Offering greetings of the occasion to those working resiliently to raise public awareness about the harmful effects of smoking and tobacco abuse, the president shed light on the theme of 2022, which revolves around environmental issues that threaten the existence of humankind.

Speaking on the theme, the president detailed some of the detrimental effects of smoking on the environment mentioning that approximately 600 million trees are cut and 84 million tons of carbon dioxide chemical compound are emitted into the air.

He also stressed that every year, 22 billion tons of water are utilized in the manufacturing of cigarettes on average, adding that 4.5 trillion cigarettes are discarded after use, amounting to 766 tons of hazardous waste that pollutes soil, beaches as well as waterways.

This he said, also endangers wildlife.

President Solih described smoking as "unacceptable”, noting that those who smoke puts themselves and the lives of others at risk.

He also shed light on the importance of environmental conservation, adding that it was time to say no to tobacco.