In 2005, Beijing Municipal Government increased investment (up to 14.7 billion Yuan) on environment and gave a priority to the prevention and treatment of air pollution with a view to improving the environmental quality of the Capital in an all-round way. Thus far, all key projects have been progressing smoothly.

   1. Air quality

   In 2005, the number of days that air quality was equal to/above national standard Grade 2 in the urban area reached 234, accounting for 64.1% of the year.

   Prevention and control measures:

   1.1 Prevention and control of soot pollution

   In 2005, Beijing Municipal Government continued to adjust energy structure and reconstructed 1,400 coal-burning boilers in the eight urban districts so that the proportion of high-quality energy in terminal energy consumption already reached 75%, including 3.3 billion m3 of natural gas.

   The newly-constructed area of centralized heating supply reached 5 million square meters and the total area of centralized heating supply reached 100 million square meters in the city.

   1.2 Prevention and control of automobile pollution

   In 2005, Beijing Municipal Government further enhanced efforts on prevention and control of vehicle emission pollution. From July 1 on, the local environmental protection standard for vehicle fuels adaptive to the National Third Stage Emission Standard was put in practice. From December 30 on, the national third stage automobile emission standard (equal to Euro III Emission Standard) was put in practice.

   In 2005, Beijing Municipal Government scrapped 3,926 old diesel buses and 30,000 taxis that generated considerable environmental pollution, and all the updated vehicles reached National Third Stage Emission Standard.

   1.3 Prevention and control of industrial pollution

   In 2005, Beijing Municipal Government continued to adjust the industrial structure and brought industrial pollution under further control. The chemical area in the southeast suburb of Beijing and Capital Iron & Steel Group have started their relocation work.

   Capital Iron & Steel Group closed No. 5 high-pressure boiler; the second batch of 23 enterprises with severe pollution launched a project to reduce the total air pollutant emission; the five largest coal-burning power plants speeded up the construction of high-efficient desulphurization, nitrogen removal and dust removal establishments.

   1.4 Prevention and control of dust pollution

   City Management & Enforcement Bureau, Beijing Construction Committee and Beijing Environmental Protection Bureau established the public report system to strengthen the supervision and intensify law enforcement on the dust pollution of construction sites.