NSS – UP chapter joins hands to mitigate air pollution and climate change

While the world is preparing for the upcoming COP26 event in Glasgow, the UP Chapter of NSS in collaboration with Lung Care Foundation, under its initiative S.H.A.P.E. UP, launched first of a kind virtual training program for teachers on Air Pollution and Climate Change. More than 700 teachers from different cities across the state registered for this program. The vision is to create a youth brigade called Air pollution & Climate action Task force (ACT) to protect the human health and survival in this time of impending climate crisis. The program is follow-up as a result of the Round Table meet "Air Pollution: Facts to Act" which was organized as a hybrid event in Lucknow on Sept 30, 2021 which was attended by multiple-stakeholders and brainstormed on the possible solution towards cleaner air and mitigate extreme climate events

According to a report released by Health Effects Institute, over 95% of the world's population breathes polluted air. And millions suffer each day due to Allergy, Asthma, C.O.P.D., Emphysema, Pneumonia, Tuberculosis & Lung Cancer. A report by interdisciplinary journal Lancet Planetary Health states that 1.7 million Indians die prematurely each year due to Air Pollution. Air Pollution and Climate Change are critical health issues, adversely impacting millions in India. Indians lose on an average of 5.9 years of their lives due to their exposure to air pollution.

Children are the worst affected. Breathing polluted reason is one of the primary causes of increasing incidence of Asthma in the country. A study released by Lung Care Foundation links air pollution to obesity, asthma and allergic diseases and data highlights that as many as 29% of adolescents in polluted cities like Delhi have Asthma. Research cautions about reduction of life expectancy ranging between 8 – 13 years in Northern Indian cities

Youth (15-29 years) in India constitute a population of over 450 million. It is time for Young India to take charge and ensure better future for themselves by their actions and initiatives. Only the Young India has the power to change the mindset of their elders and the upcoming generations.

Quotes:

Speaking at the program, Rajiv Khurana, Founder Trustee, Lung Care Foundation said "ACT is an initiative by the Lung Care Foundation, India, that should soon inspire the youngsters around the world. Our immediate mission is to create a Taskforce of 100 million youth to adopt every day practices to bring positive impact for clean air and climate action around them. We believe, the youth shall change the world to a healthy living space."

Dr. AP Maheshwari, Patron, Lung Care Foundation, who is leading the S.H.A.P.E. UP initiative spoke to the teachers highlighting "role of each member to adopt carbon free life style and then become a role model to spread it around in wider and even wider circles. Teachers in colleges can provide research based policy suggestion to our public representatives in municipal corporations, assembly and parliament towards mitigating air pollution "

Dr. Anshumali Sharma, OSD & SLO, NSS who is leading the ACT program in UP said that "it is a proud privilege for NSS to undertake this mission and adopt minimalist life in tune with what Mahatma Gandhi too hinted. It will definitely reduce carbon foot prints"

Dr. Charu Rawat, Educationist and Mentor, spoke about her experience of working with the youth and said that "teachers are the torch bearers and can communicate well to adopt small small steps for change towards improving the environment "

Dr. Arvind Kumar, Founder Trustee, Lung Care Foundation & Chairman, Institute of Chest Surgery, Medanta – The Medicity, Gurugram spoke about the health impacts of air pollution "There are many global research studies that show the lasting health impacts of air pollution on health of the people. The findings of the recent study released by Lung Care Foundation, is an eye-opener. It has shown an unacceptably high prevalence of respiratory and allergic symptoms, spirometry-defined asthma, and obesity in Delhi Children. Air Pollution is the probable link with all three. It is high time that the air pollution issue in Delhi and other cities is settled in a systematic manner to save the future of our children."