Re: Beijing pollution is becoming a “public health catastrophe,” expert says
Since this BMJ report on Beijing’s air pollution crisis – the air quality has continued to reach extreme levels in recent weeks. Another insult to air quality may come from fireworks at Chinese New Year Celebrations in early February.
China has the skills and capacity to clean up the air in its cities by having state-of-the-art electrified bus and train networks; having high fuel taxes for private vehicles; and imposing carbon charges on its industries. Indeed it is already experimenting with seven emissions trading pilots [1]. But the rest of the world could do more to help China. Other countries could offer clean technology and policy advice on systems to reduce emissions. Embassies and consulates in Beijing and other cities could follow the United States Embassy lead and make hourly data on fine particulate levels (PM2.5) available online. They could also discourage travellers from their nations from visiting and withdraw staff from Beijing and other cities during months where hazardous pollution levels are common. Such measures may all benefit public health and help China’s transition to a low carbon economy.
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Re: Beijing pollution is becoming a “public health catastrophe,” expert says
Since this BMJ report on Beijing’s air pollution crisis – the air quality has continued to reach extreme levels in recent weeks. Another insult to air quality may come from fireworks at Chinese New Year Celebrations in early February.
China has the skills and capacity to clean up the air in its cities by having state-of-the-art electrified bus and train networks; having high fuel taxes for private vehicles; and imposing carbon charges on its industries. Indeed it is already experimenting with seven emissions trading pilots [1]. But the rest of the world could do more to help China. Other countries could offer clean technology and policy advice on systems to reduce emissions. Embassies and consulates in Beijing and other cities could follow the United States Embassy lead and make hourly data on fine particulate levels (PM2.5) available online. They could also discourage travellers from their nations from visiting and withdraw staff from Beijing and other cities during months where hazardous pollution levels are common. Such measures may all benefit public health and help China’s transition to a low carbon economy.
Reference
1. Yu G, Elsworth R. Turning the Tanker: China's Changing Economic Imperatives and its Tentative Look to Emissions Trading: Sandbag. 2012. http://www.sandbag.org.uk/site_media/pdfs/reports/Sandbag_Turning_the_Ta...
Competing interests: No competing interests