Clearing up the Gray Skies Over China
Beijing skyline from the Western Mountains. (Photo by Guang Niu/Getty Images)
The Asia Society has a fascinating web site devoted to China's air quality. It includes a daily photograph of the Beijing sky taken by their photographer for the past year and a short video on the problem of air pollution and how China is attempting to find solutions.
The government has spent $17.3 billion in the last decade to improve the air in Beijing. Every day, the Ministry of Environmental Protection, publishes the Air pollution index, which measures five pollutants in the sky: Sulfur Dioxide, Nitrogen Dioxide, PM10 (inhalable particulate matter), Carbon Monoxide and Ozone.
Days with a Air Pollution Index of 100 or less are considered "blue sky days" An Index of 100, on the Chinese scale, is considered "slightly polluted." In 1998, Beijing had 100 blue sky days, nine years later, 246 were recorded, according to the Asia Society.
James Fallows at the Atlantic highlights a recent study conducted jointly by researchers in China and the United States, that found that the air during the Beijing Olympics was worse than previous Olympic Games.
The report also found that smaller particulate matter during the Games exceeded World Health Organization guidelines 100 percent of the time. China currently doesn't measure small particulate matter, which can cause more harmful health effects than larger particulates.
Much of the air quality problems in China stem from rapid development that went years without consideration for environmental protection. But while China is the largest global emitter of greenhouse gases by volume, per capita, the largest emitter is still the United States. Americans emit five times as much greenhouse gasses as the Chinese.
Comments
Hi Lisa:
Great ariticle! I enjoyed the comparisons between Chinese and other countries measurement criteria.
Certainly, the governments must be applauded in their attempts to reduce airborne contaminants, however each of us have a responsibility to reduce our own contributions by walking, riding a bus, a bike or just car pooling!
As an older man (just 50) I am just thinking about the opportunities I have had to travel to many North American destinations over the past 45 years of recollection.
Pollution caused as a result of unregulated growth, unregulated disposal (commercial and personal) and unregulated point of sale packaging has been graciously hidden from the view of most people throughout North America. We certainly must address that quickly! Incineration, recycling, reducing…
As you are aware, a large percentage of land fill content is fast food packaging. And then there is the litter aspect of pollution that is a direct result of fast food service that ends up in our streets, our yards and our parks and along our highways.
Here is an interesting topic for you to research! In the late 90s, the Chinese had the goal to have an automobile in every household in China. Thankfully this has not happened! The Chinese would prefer that the vehicle be a Mercedes. The cost was too high. So just imagine what Mercede’ Benz solution to the high cost was? They would remove the Pollution Control devices and that would reduce the cost of the vehicle by $2500 US. I guess the Germans and the Chinese and the Americans do not breath the same air?
Cheers Lisa! Keep up the great work.
Mark