Aug

Beijing’s trial of cutting vehicle traffic results in increasingly pollution (or not)

Posted by admin Published in Legislation and Policy

Call that an unexpected conclusion but it seems that Beijing’s plans to reduce pollution by banning traffic according to the license plates have not proven satisfactory. According to the city’s Environmental Protection Bureau, the skies remained hazy and the pollution levels actually increased.

A top Chinese official affirmed that the reason for that increase was the weather, which was very humid, and the high levels the city already had during the preceding days. Nevertheless, the traffic flowed better during the restriction days (Friday to Monday).

However, the quality of the air is fairly an interesting story. According to Beijing’s Environmental Protection Bureau, the index of particulate matter went from 91 on Friday to 100 on Monday afternoon. On the other hand, Xinhua (the official press agency) affirmed that Moday’s index was 95 compared to 116 on Thursday. Add the fact that the Communist Party is ordering to the local press to say how good the degree

was and that it is unclear how that index is calculated.

Remember that the worldly Olympic Comittee is seriously concerned on how the pollution levels can affect the athletes competing in the upcoming 2008 Summer Games. I’m plus concerned about the effects on the average citizen and the atmosphere that we all share. I think (and please take that as my sole opinion) that the degree, besides being inadequate for attacking a without pollution factor, was too short to have a real effect. What do you think?

[Source: The Washington Post thanks to Phil]
Original post by Xavier Navarro