- Title: CHINA: Beijing to introduce stricter air pollution standards to combat city smog
- Date: 11th January 2012
- Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) GREENPEACE CAMPAIGNER, ZHOU RONG, SAYING: "Some gaseous pollutants have turned into solid pollutants. The old pollutant standard to evaluate our air is already out-dated. So if we talk about an improvement of the air quality according to that standard and that we have 'blue skies', it is very inconsistent with how the public is feeling." EXTERIOR OF
- Embargoed: 26th January 2012 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: China, China
- Country: China
- Topics: Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA7RWBBIPMVCRXQVKVHDIQTXSIZ
- Story Text: The Beijing city government will soon release the results of stricter air pollution standards, following a public outcry that authorities are understating the extent of smog that often shrouds China's capital.
Many Beijing residents complain that official figures greatly underestimate the air quality problem and say they only trust readings from the U.S. embassy, which has its own measurement based on U.S. standards. Those readings appear much grimmer than those of the city government's.
Under stricter standards, the Beijing municipal government will monitor and provide hourly updates of the smallest, most dangerous pollution particles in the air -- 2.5 micrometers in diameter or less, known as PM 2.5 -- that doctors warn can more easily settle in the lungs and cause respiratory problems and other illnesses.
China has disclosed readings only of pollutant particles that are 10 micrometers in diameter or larger.
Beijing authorities said last month they had met their target of "blue sky" days for 2011, with 274 days of "grade one or two" air quality compared with 252 days in 2010.
However, Zhou Rong, climate and energy campaigner of Greenpeace, said the 'blue sky' days would hugely decrease with new air pollution standards.
"Some gaseous pollutants have turned into solid pollutants. The old pollutant standard to evaluate our air is already out-dated. So if we talk about improvement of our air condition according to that standard and that we have 'blue skies', it is very inconsistent with how the public is feeling," she said.
A cocktail of smokestack emissions, vehicle exhaust, dust and aerosols have at times blanketed the city in a pungent, beige shroud for days on end, and has even forced the cancellation of flights.
Parents have long complained that the poor air quality is endangering the health of their children.
"My son has already has coryza for four months. It is being treated, but his condition is not getting better. Doctors said it is caused by the climate, so can not be totally cured. The air pollution is indeed heavy," said Wang Nan.
Thirty-eight-year-old Li Fengyong shared the same concern.
"The children are so young right now. If the air quality gets worse, it will kill our next generation. The government is now monitoring PM2.5, it is for the healthy growth of the next generation. It has made many efforts. As citizens, we hope the government can worker harder," he said.
Zhou reiterated the importance of taking actions to improve the air quality in China.
"It's not only because of the worsening pollution, but also because of the change of the climate. The climate this year may be a little abnormal, causing the number of foggy days to increase. But in general, if we don't have so much pollutant, we won't have such serious foggy days. So, from this perspective, our air pollution has reached the extent that we have to do something about it at this point," she said.
In response to public anger, the Beijing Environmental Bureau said it would provide the readings of the PM 2.5 standard starting from the Chinese New Year, which falls on January 23 this year. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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