Quarter of Beijing's air pollution originates from elsewhere
In breaking down the source of the capital's air pollution, the local environmental bureau shows the answer will require regional effort
Nearly a quarter of the smog that blankets Beijing originates from neighbouring provinces and cities, the municipal environmental bureau said yesterday, highlighting a key challenge the capital faces in reducing its air pollution.
Under a national plan released by the State Council earlier this month, Beijing must cut one of the main causes of smog - fine particles - to around 60 micrograms cubic metre by 2017.
The municipal government was confident it could achieve the target, so long as other areas met their goals, Fang Li, a bureau spokesman, said at a press conference yesterday announcing the city's clean air strategy.
"The central government has also given objectives to nearby provinces and cities - including Hebei , Inner Mongolia, Shandong , Shanxi and Tianjin - so if they can take care of their own problems, Beijing will be fine with the 2017 target," Li said.
The bureau said air pollution arising from nearby regions contributed to 25 per cent of the capital's smog. The other significant sources are local vehicle emissions, at 22 per cent, and coal burning, at 17 per cent.
The finding highlights the challenge Beijing faces in tackling the problem - neighbouring areas fear any bold measures will stifle their economic growth.