China’s national legislators are back in Beijing ... and so is the smog
Air pollution in the capital hit severe levels at 11am on Wednesday ahead of the annual ‘two sessions’ meeting of nation’s legislature and elite political advisers
Air quality in Beijing deteriorated yesterday as national legislators and elite political advisers were arriving in the capital city for the forthcoming “two sessions” – the annual meeting of the country’s legislature and elite political advisers – starting on Thursday.
Air pollution in the city reached severe levels at 11am on Wednesday as concentration of PM2.5 – tiny particulate pollutants that are most damaging to public health – reached 194 micrograms per cubic metre, according to readings from the US embassy in Beijing.
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The Air Quality Index in Beijing stood at about 200, in the unhealthy range. Visibility in the city was significantly reduced as the temperature rose to 15 degrees Celsius during the day.
The municipal government issued a yellow alert for smog – the lowest in a four-tier warning system – on Wednesday evening, warning the public to take precautions. It said the smog would be severe on Thursday and continue to Friday evening, when a cold front is expected to clear it.
Beijingers have put on masks again after enjoying continuous clear blue sky days during the past two months.
The National Meteorological Centre, the city’s weather bureau, has forecast that the smog will continue on Thursday, the opening day of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), and last until Friday. The CPPCC will be followed by the National People’s Congress, which gets underway on Saturday.