Beijing issues specific measures for protecting air quality during Games

Scene of the press conference

(BEIJING, April 14) -- Expanding on a previously released document outlining measures for improving air quality before the Olympic and Paralympics Games begin, a city official released a statement on Monday, April 14, outlining their plans for protecting air quality while the Games are taking place.

Du Shaozhong, deputy head of the Beijing Municipal Environmental Protection Bureau, said the protection measures are a combined effort of the State General Administration of Environment Protection and the Beijing Municipal Government, with the support of experts from Tianjin, Hebei, Shanxi, Inner Mongolia, Shandong, Peking University and Tsinghua University.

Du Shaozhong

Among the protection measures to be implemented during the Games are:

-- The management of motor vehicles and the promotion of more environmentally-friendly forms of transportation

-- A stoppage of work at all construction sites in Beijing on or before July 20, as well as at chemical plants and mining operations around Beijing

-- The banning of equipment that don't meet emission standards, such as coal-burning boilers

-- A 30 percent reduction in emissions from 19 enterprises around Beijing notorious for heavy pollution

-- Strict control on gas, oil, paint and solvent distribution and use

Journalists at the press conference

The press released also called on companies, communities and citizens within Olympic host cities to do their part in ensuring high air-quality not only during the Olympic Games but also after the Games conclude. "By taking environmental protection and improvement as everyone's own responsibility and establishing sustainable production methods and environmentally-friendly living practices," said Du, "we are supporting the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games through spreading Olympic concepts and contributing to the realization of a Green Olympics and a harmonious society."