Air quality during the Games ensured

Full coverage: Press conference on Beijing air quality

(BEIJING, August 8) -- On Friday August 8, a press conference on Beijing air quality was held at Beijing's Main Press Center with Mr. Du Shaozhong, Deputy Director and spokesman of Beijing Municipal Environmental Protection Bureau; Mr. Guo Hu, Director of Beijing Meteorological Observatory; and Hao Jiming, member of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and Tsinghua's Dean of the Institute of Environmental Science and Technology. According to Du, the air quality of Beijing has met relevant standards.

Since July, temporary emission reduction measures have been adopted in Beijing. From August 1 to August 3, the Air Pollution Index (API) numbers were 28, 34 and 36 respectively. From August 4 to 7, the API was 83, 88, 85 and 96 respectively. "The set of numbers can explain two things: first, the overall emission of air pollutants in Beijing has remarkably decreased; second, it demonstrates to us that, whether we have sunny or cloudy days, we will reach the first level of standards for air quality. Even if we have some decrease, which will not help to reduce the pollutants, we can even reach the second level of standards," Du said at the press conference.

At the press conference, Du gave an illustration with data obtained on August 7. The emission of the major pollutants and the inhalable particulates was 96. There were 14 for sulfur dioxide, 15 for carbon monoxide and 16 for nitrogen dioxide, which fully defines the current air quality condition in Beijing.

Du also introduced the air quality improvement in Beijing in three steps, referred to as triple jumps. The first step was from 1998 to the end of 2007. Over 9 years, Beijing Municipal Government implemented 13 stages and more than 200 measures to reduce the pollutant emission from motor vehicles, coal fire units, construction sites and industrial pollution sites. Through such efforts, the days meeting the relevant standard has increased from 100 to 246 days. In terms of the percentage, it has increased from 27.4% to 67.0%, with 40.0% increase. In addition, the emission of the major pollutions such as carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide, as well as the inhalable particulates, have been decreased by 60.8%, 39.4%, 10.8% and 19.8% respectively.

Since July 1, 2008, additional measures to improve air quality conditions have been implemented, including specific traffic controls for motor vehicles, and cessation of heavily polluting industries and construction sites. With these efforts, the emission was reduced by 30.0%. "I express our confidence to the media that we will ensure the air quality during the Olympic Games meets standards," Du said firmly.