Beijing Olympics Not Breathing Easy
With just days to go, China’s government is working overtime to meet air pollution reduction goals set for the upcoming Olympic games in Beijing.
Named the world’s 13th most polluted city by the World Bank, Beijing has implemented stiff measures to reduce its infamous air pollution, including:
- Tightening emission standards on cars
- Temporarily restricting traffic in Beijing
- Temporarily halting some construction projects
- Ordering some high-polluting factories to temporarily stop work
- Updating coal-burning plants
And while the measures have had some effect—Chinese government officials say Beijing’s air pollution is down 20% from 2007—it may not be enough. Due in part to warm, dry weather and a lack of wind during the past week, Beijing’s air pollution index is twice the maximum recommended by the World Health Organization.
If pollution levels keep up, the government says it is prepared to further restrict driving in Beijing (taking up to 90% of the city’s private cars off the road), halt more construction sites, and order more factories to shutter operations during the games.
More resources:
“Beijing Pollution: Facts and Figures,” BBC News, July 18, 2008
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7498198.stm
“Beijing May Take New Measures on Olympic Pollution,” Bloomberg, July 28, 2008
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601079&sid=agMq3gnpy6V8&refer=home
“Beijing Mulls Emergency Green Plan for Games,” China Daily (a state-run newspaper), July 28, 2008
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2008-07/28/content_6880332.htm
