Lucknow: Living in a city that records an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 140 and more is like smoking 7-8 cigarettes a day. Lucknow, at least during the peak winter period, is one of the nine such cities in Uttar Pradesh.These were a few of the disturbing facts that came to the fore during a daylong workshop on air pollution and climate change organised by the Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board (UPPCB) and the Lung Care Foundation (LCF) at Indian Industries Association (IIA) Bhawan on Wednesday.Titled Solutions for Health, Air Pollution, and Environment in Uttar Pradesh (SHAPE-UP), the workshop urged people to change their lifestyle and spoke of collective efforts to mitigate the challenges of climate change.Of all the patients suffering from lung infection that I used to treat in the 1980s, about 85% were smokers. But now, over 50% of my patients are non-smokers but have lungs resembling that of a smoker who smokes 7-8 cigarettes a day, said LCF founder and trustee Dr Arvind Kumar. Minister of state (independent), environment and climate change Arun Kumar Saxena suggested that reliance on solar energy and LPG gas for cooking instead of wood or stubble can bring a significant change.ACS, environment, forest and climate change Manoj Singh said climate change was an issue of inter-generational justice.While physics and chemistry exist across our solar system, biological life is only on Earth. It is our collective responsibility to see what we are leaving behind for the next generation, Singh said. Another issue that came to the fore was emissions from the industries and the need to make manufacturing among the micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) greener.Dont penalise entrepreneurs. Help them with technological support by promoting bio-diesel or other technology. Ensure that we dont rely on diesel generators by providing seamless power supply, said IIA president Neeraj Singhal.The event called upon people to adopt simple measures like quitting smoking, burning wood for cooking or other purposes and planting samplings. Civil society plays a pivotal role in bringing long-term behavioural change. Thus, their role becomes imperative in taking this message to the people and stress upon lifestyle changes that they can incorporate to mitigate challenges of climate change, said former director general at CRPF and patron at LCF AP Maheshwari.We also published the following articles recentlyThere are no non-smokers in cities that are grappling with air pollutionLiving in cities with high air pollution levels is equivalent to smoking several cigarettes a day. Lucknow, a city in Uttar Pradesh, is one of the nine cities in the state that experience poor air quality. A workshop on air pollution and climate change highlighted the need for lifestyle changes and collective efforts to address these challenges. The workshop emphasized the importance of relying on solar energy and clean cooking fuels, such as LPG gas, to reduce pollution. The emissions from industries and the need for greener manufacturing practices were also discussed. Civil society was urged to play a role in promoting behavior change and addressing climate change issues.Soyabean crop hit due to climatic changesA yellow mosaic virus is causing major losses to soybean crops in Nagpur, with experts suggesting that the crisis is due to fungal infection triggered by changes in rain patterns. The virus silently attacks the crop, causing leaves to turn yellow overnight. The extent of the damage is still being determined, but large parts of Vidarbha have been affected. Experts have recommended measures such as the use of yellow stick traps to catch the white fly, which spreads the virus. Farmers are seeking compensation for the losses.Explained: What causes global warming and climate change?Global warming is caused by the increase in greenhouse gases, primarily from human activities such as burning fossil fuels. This leads to the greenhouse effect, raising temperatures and triggering climate change. The consequences include melting ice, rising sea levels, extreme weather events, disrupted ecosystems, and altered weather patterns. To address these challenges, collective action is required, including reducing greenhouse gas emissions, conserving and restoring forests, adapting to the changes, and promoting global cooperation through international agreements like the Paris Agreement.

Stay updated with all the Lucknow Latest News headlines here. For more exclusive & live news updates from all around India, stay connected with NYOOOZ.