Blue skies over Beijing again ... but Chinese meteorologists warn pollution will be back at weekend
Strong winds over capital helps disperse smog, which leads to first red alert for pollution being lifted at noon on Thursday
Drastic measures taken by Beijing over the past three days helped cut emissions by 30 per cent and stopped air pollution from worsening as north winds blew away the smog on Thursday.
A blue sky returned as the red alert, the highest of the four-tier air quality warning system, was lifted at noon. Students will return to school today and limits on the use of private cars have been partly eased.
In an open letter on its website, the Beijing municipal government “expressed heartfelt gratitude” to residents for their support and sacrifices in cutting air pollution after the red alert took effect on Monday morning following forecasts predicting three consecutive days of air quality index readings higher than 200. The environmental protection authority blamed the smog on the burning of coal and on car exhausts during unfavourable weather.
Measures introduced after the red alert, including halting or limiting production at 2,100 factories, closing schools and allowing private cars on the roads only on alternate days had contributed to the effective control of the smog, the environmental protection authority said.
Car emissions fell from 32 per cent on Sunday to 7 per cent on Monday night after the alert was imposed, showing the measures had a significant impact, according to a statement by the Ministry of Environmental Protection.
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Yet some people questioned why last week’s severe smog had warranted only an orange alert, and said further smog problems would lead to more disruption.
Professor Peng Zongchao, of Tsinghua University’s school of public policy and management, said issuing the red alert showed government progress in carrying out its contingency plans.
Issuing the highest-level alert one week after widespread criticism also showed officials had attached greater importance on interactive risk communication and a swifter response thanks to its use of new media.
