Beijing air pollution

The Chinese capital has for many years suffered from serious air pollution. Primary sources of pollutants include exhaust emission from Beijing's more than five million motor vehicles, coal burning in neighbouring regions, dust storms from the north and local construction dust. A particularly severe smog engulfed the city for weeks in early 2013, elevating public awareness to unprecedented levels and prompting the government to roll out emergency measures.

ENVIRONMENT

Darkness at noon as worst dust storm in months mixes with morning smog

1 Mar 2013

The sun vanished and nearby buildings disappeared from view across northern China yesterday morning as the worst dust storm in months combined with thick, stagnant smog to create an acrid mix of...

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New Chinese name for particulate-ly deadly smog

1 Mar 2013

PM2.5 now has an official Chinese name, xikeliwu, that literally translates as "fine particulate matter" after extensive debate among meteorologists, linguists and environmental experts, mainland...

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Beijing air pollution soars off index as dust storm brews in west

28 Feb 2013

Updated: Severe haze is expected to be compounded by a dust storm brewing in northern China, which has already affected parts of Inner Mongolia, Gansu and Hebei.

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Beijing air quality plummets after Lantern Festival fireworks

25 Feb 2013

Heavy smog blanketed most areas in Beijing and air pollution readings surged after enthusiastic residents set off fireworks to celebrate the annual Lantern Festival, Xinhua reported on Monday.

China Digest, February 25, 2013

25 Feb 2013

Environmental protection officials urged Beijing residents to refrain from setting off fireworks yesterday - the last day they were allowed to do so for the Lunar New Year celebrations - because...

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The 40b yuan cost of new emission rule

Stringent new emission standards that will be imposed on mainland carmakers from March 1 may cost the industry about 40 billion yuan (HK$49.28 billion), but well-prepared manufacturers say that...

Beijingers respond to planned BBQ bans with a scoff and a cough

Government proposals to reduce air pollution, in part by banning barbecues and encouraging people to eat less fried food, have sparked an online backlash, with environmental activists and the...

Smog in Pearl River Delta 'worse than in Beijing'

Pollutants in the Pearl River Delta are more dangerous than those choking the capital because they contain higher levels of hazardous nitrogenous organic compounds, an expert said yesterday. Wu...

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ENVIRONMENT

Beijing hopes carbon dioxide tax will help reduce pollution

Beijing will levy a tax on carbon dioxide emissions as part of new fiscal measures aimed at addressing the mainland's worsening pollution problem, a senior official at the Ministry of Finance said...

POLLUTION

Flights cancelled as Beijing is blighted by smog yet again

Thick smog that blanketed Beijing and surrounding regions for a record 21 days last month returned, causing travel chaos as many businesses reopened and people returned after the Lunar New Year...

WHAT THE MAINLAND MEDIA SAY

Revellers in face masks setting off fireworks sparks rethink of ritual

The spectacle of Beijingers wearing face masks as they set off firecrackers in smog-choked streets at the start of the Lunar New Year led many to ask themselves a question: is the noisy custom...

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