Press conference: Beijing air quality

Bloomberg

You mentioned that the air quality standard here is in line with the WHO standard, so I want to know what WHO standards you mentioned. Is it in year 2001, 2005 or 2010? The second is that we have this very foggy day today. Can you explain why we have this very foggy day? Do you have any emergency measures to reduce the pollution for today?

Du Shaozhong

When we won the bid to host the Olympic Games, the WHO standard was 1999 version. In that version, there is no standard regarding inhalable particulates. At that time we carried out a national standard, which is 150 microgrammes per cubic meter. In 2005 WHO standards, the version includes the standard of inhalable particulates. In this version, we have the first phase with 150 microgrammes per cubic meter, the second phase with 100 microgrammes per cubic meter, the third phase with 75 microgrammes per cubic meter, and the fourth phase with 50 microgrammes per cubic meter. Now we carry out the first phase in line with the WHO standards. For measures you have taken, we are focusing one improving the air quality. So the general goal is not aiming at extreme weather or extreme occasion.

As you can see, we have very humid and hot days and foggy for the last few days, so we are taking temporary measures to improve the air quality in Beijing. We are actually making sure that the impose measures will improve the air quality and reduce the pollution here in Beijing. And a lot of measures taken by Beijing in surrounding cities are also taking measures to reduce the pollution in Beijing. For example, today, the Environment Protection Bureau implements efforts to check major polluting areas in Beijing. That is all I want to say. I will give the floor to Mr. Guo, director of Beijing Meteorological Observatory.

Guo Hu

Now it is my turn. First of all, I would like to say that the visibility is not good. When we have rainy day and foggy day, the visibility is not good. But it doesn't mean the air quality is not good.

As for water in the air, for example, here I got the data. At 7 a.m. this morning, we can see the humidity has reached 80% to 90%. At 9 a.m., the visibility is 3 to 5 kilometers and the humidity is 70% to 80%. So in terms of the meteorological description, we are having a foggy day.

The picture in my hand shows the result we got from Fengyun Meterological Satellite. The clouds cover Beijing and the west surrounding area of Beijing. We are really concerned whether that part will have certain influence on tonight's ceremony. This is a special equipment of facility to test the content of the water vapor in the atmosphere. This is equipment made by the United States. The red color represents the major humid areas. So you can see ever since 3 a.m., the humidity has increased constantly. Therefore, this is consistent with the information. At lower layer of the atmosphere, there is a qualified content of water vapor. This is the table of the data shows the 80% of the concentration of water vapor in the atmosphere.

This is the data and chart from we get from the monitory station which is located by the National Stadium. From the first charge, it shows the change of the temperature. It shows that yesterday at 10 a.m., the average temperature is about 28.3 degree. Up to 9 a.m. today, the temperature have been reached 29.9 degree.

The second chart shows the changes of the humidity at the Olympic Center in days. According to the curves, the temperature was 28.3℃ at 10:00 a.m. By the 9 a.m. of today, the humidity number is 77. The air pressure decreased slightly. The wind speed here shows its only about 1-2 meter so we have a foggy day today. I know that all the journalists and the press friends will have a quite heavy pass. Today we have hot and humid day. Unfortunately, the average temperature is 39.9 today. My suggestion for all of you is to drink more water.

Foreign reporter

I want to ask you, will it rain tonight?

Guo Hu

From the picture I showed you from the weather satellite. It appears that there are some clouds covering Beijing. Up to now from the current data, the weather during the opening ceremony will be cloudy. From the noon to the evening, we may have short rains. The temperature is very high and the day is very humid. So the main task for us is to take all the measures to prevent sunstroke.

Beijing Youth Daily

Yesterday, Mr. Rogge has given us positive comments on the air quality condition of Beijing. He told us that Beijing has made extraordinary efforts to improve the air quality. He also reminded the journalists foggy days do not necessarily mean that we have very bad air quality of air pollution. My question is that according to your forecast, when will these foggy days end?

Guo Hu

We have to look at the favorable weather conditions which help spread the removal of the major pollutants, which will be the gay weather and the very heavy rainfall. I can also answer your question with this picture. You can see from this picture. That is in the north western part of china, we have heavy cloudy moving to the east direction. We estimate that on the 9th and 10th of august, we will have big rain in Beijing. We expect the weather condition in Beijing will further improve.

Chinese reporter

I believe the general public in Beijing don't have the sophisticated equipments to catch the air quality in Beijing. They just used their nose and eyes to feel the air quality in their homeland. Some are saying their eyes are watering and noses are smelling the pollution in the air in Beijing. My question is whether you have the same kind of commitment after the Closing Ceremony of the Olympic Games?

Du Shaozhong

Well, after many years of hard working efforts. The air quality has been remarkable improved. If we looked at the whole year picture, we have to see that although we have 30% which failed to reach the standard, we have 70% of the days meet the standard but indeed.

Olympic Games certainly gave us another important opportunity to further improve the air quality in Beijing. That's why we have taken serious measures to improve the air quality and ensure good air quality before the games. To reach the target, Beijingers have made utmost efforts and make sacrifice to make it come true.

Just because of all the efforts and the measures we have taken. We are confident to say that we have provided a good air quality during the games. However, the residents in Beijing are concerned about the follow-up measures whether the local government will work very hard to improve the air quality and atmosphere. That is certainly understandable.

One thing we can see here is that most of the measures for the past few years are for long term effective measures. The effectiveness of the measures will not be terminated just because of the closing of the Olympic Games.

Secondly, based on the experiences and the progress we have made and accumulated during the Olympic Games to improve air quality, we will further improve the air quality in Beijing.

Sun Weide

The press conference this morning ended. Thank you, the distinguished guests.