Smoking is sometimes recommended by IUCN - for small-scale food preservation or for the Friday barbecue on the Terrace.

This is a 'petition' to gauge interest among IUCN staff, as well as partners and associates, in seeking solutions to the issue of smoking (cigarettes) in the IUCN HQ building entryway, and premises in general. The issue relates to unpleasant secondary smoke and errant butts, and the negative image that these portray to staff and global visitors to IUCN.

By signing, we would like to register our support for the IUCN Staff Representative Committee, General Services Unit, and Senior Management, to find and consider solutions that prevent any form of smoking in the entry passageway to IUCN.

We also commit to help further reduce the extent of cigarette smoke, butt litter, and pollution throughout the locality.

We recognize the existing provisions in the GSU manual asking for no smoking in the entrance. We also recall the IUCN General Assembly 1994 Decision that calls for "smoking areas ... designated that substantially reduce exposure to non-smokers". We also call attention to IUCN-supported research, posted on our website, on the impact of cigarette butt toxicity.

While conscious of Swiss Law and context, IUCN should lead by example in matters related to environmental and human health concerns.

No butts, no buts.

Thanks for your consideration.