Panel Discussion: “Poison in the Air, Soil, and Water: The Environmental Impact of the Tobacco Industry”
On the occasion of Earth Day, the NGO “Life” in cooperation with the National Interests Advocacy Network “ANTS” is organizing a press conference to highlight the large-scale environmental damage caused by the tobacco industry.
Date: April 22, 2025
Time: 11:00 AM
Location: Ukrainian Crisis Media Center, 2 Khreshchatyk St., Kyiv
Why is this important?
The World Health Organization emphasizes that tobacco pollutes the planet at every stage of its life cycle — from cultivation to disposal. Every year, 4.5 trillion cigarette butts are produced, which are toxic, non-recyclable waste.
The event will feature:
- How cigarette butts are classified in Ukraine
- Whether current practices align with EU standards
- How many cigarette butts entered Ukraine’s environment in 2024;
- What steps are needed to improve national responsibility policies.
Invited speakers:
- Svitlana Hrynchuk — Minister of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources of Ukraine (TBC).
- Yuliia Ovchynnykova — Member of Parliament of Ukraine, Committee on Environmental Policy (online).
- Mykhailo Rozsada — Director General of the Public Health Center (TBC).
- Oleh Lystopad — Environmental expert, “ANTS” Network.
- Dmytro Kupyra — Executive Director of NGO “Center for Civil Representation ‘Life’”.
- Olena Kravchenko — Director of the International Charitable Organization “Environment – People – Law”.
Media and participant contact:
Olha Masna, Media Coordinator, NGO “Life”
+38 (073) 089 65 70