Measures on emission cuts and the resultant reflections on Beijing’s atmosphere-2008.

To safeguard the health of competing athletes, immediately before and during the Summer Olympics in Beijing, the Chinese officials had carried out pollution control in thirteen stages, with more than 200 concrete steps. This,

• reduced the industrial activity by as much as 30 percent, and,
• mandated cuts in automobile use by half.

From 1998 to 2008, Beijing invested more than 1,600 million yuan in environmental protection measures, a total of 3.42% of GDP. In 2006 alone, this number reached 250 million yuan.

The event had given a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to the scientists to observe how the atmosphere responds when a heavily populated region substantially curbs everyday ‘household-vehicular-industrial’ emissions.

What were some of the measures that made it happen?......... the Chinese:

limited the pollution caused by coal burning, by:

• increasing the monitoring of desulphurization processes for large coal-burning equipments including coal-fired power plants and coal-burning boilers in excess of 20 tons.
• constant monitoring by the Law enforcement officials on small businesses to prevent them from using small coal-burning stoves.
• enforcing regulations on the 30,000 single house residents in Dongcheng and Xicheng, to change the way they were using the energy resources.

dramatically reduced the pollution from vehicular traffic. From 2002 and 2003 they made:

• more stringent checks on cars on the road and ensured that a minimum standard was met by vehicles being operated. The idea of ‘vehicle pooling’ and ‘each car to be off the road for one day per week’, were promoted on war footing.
• about 13,000 old buses and 56,000 taxis were eliminated in the process of accelerating the eradication of old vehicles.
• gas stations around the country to experience an environmental overhaul.

made great progress in Industrial pollution control measures through relocation, restructuring and other means during the period. For instance:

• severe dust polluting enterprises located in the outskirts of the city were shut down, especially the cement kilns were completely shut down by the end of 2005.
• 200 and more heavily polluting enterprises either ceased their production or were relocated to newer and far-off sites.
• in July of 2006, Beijing coking plants ceased operations.

brought construction and road dust pollution sites under strict supervision.

• The overall focus stayed on the prevention and control of air pollution, pollution control regarding water, solid waste, and ecological protection.
• Pollution prevention and environmental radiation safety work had been comprehensively strengthened.
• Hazardous waste storage, collection, transportation and disposal achieved whole processing management. Medical waste removal was regulated to ensure proper disposal. Radioactive waste had also been controlled, with the completion of the main Radioactive Waste Project

Stringent measures were also taken to reduce noise pollution. There were increased penalties for noise pollution caused by construction, affecting the social lives.

green belts through afforestation and reforestation in and around the city. The waste lands were converted into flower beds to cater to the need of about 4 million bouquets and flowers during the games.

As a result, by 2006 itself,

Beijing's natural gas usage reached 47 cubic metres, 43 cubic meters greater than 1998.

The increase in the number of gas-based vehicles controlled the pollution from tankers, oil using cars, and diesel vehicles to a great extent.

Carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide rates dropped by 36 percent and 10.8 percent respectively.

The closing of operations at Beijing Coking plants reduced the amount of coal, dust and sulfur dioxide emissions by 300 million tons, 7,300 tons and 7,500 tons, respectively.

There was a significant control over haze and smog over the city, during the games.

The residents of Beijing enjoyed clear skies, clean air and quiet streets throughout the games.

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