Just a week after Beijing's major literally had his head saved [5], thanks to a cold front which swept away some of the worst pollution ever, the city has raised the alarm once again.. but this time to a record level. For the first time ever, the municipal government has issued a so-called red pollution alert - imposed car bans and suspending schools - after acrid-smelling haze returned to the Chinese capital.
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Beijing mayor, Wang Anshun, vowed last year, as JapanTimes reports, [7] that if pollution wasn’t brought under control by 2017, he would cut off his own head and present it to the country’s leadership.
Time to sharpen up that ax again...
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The "airpocalypse" of smog swirling over Chinese cities has reached its most dangerous levels yet. Gizmodo explains... [9]
And here are some stills...
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Now you see it...
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Now you don't...
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Local authorities upgraded the air pollution alert to red from orange, effective from 7 a.m. Dec. 8 to noon Dec. 10, according to a statement on Beijing Municipal Environmental Protection Bureau’s official Weibo Monday.
Some industrial companies must stop or limit production, outdoor construction work will be banned and primary schools and kindergartens are advised to cancel classes, the statement said. Even healthy people should try to avoid outdoor activity and choose public transportation.
“The red alert shows the local government has stepped up efforts to protect citizens from pollution,” said Dong Liansai, climate and energy campaigner at Greenpeace East Asia. “It’s probably because of pressure from the central government.”
Clear skies aren’t expected again until after the smog peaks Wednesday, according to the China National Environment Monitoring Center.
Monday’s bad air, coupled with five days of hazardous pollution on Nov. 27-Dec. 1, raised fresh concern about the government’s ability to tackle air quality despite repeated statements from leaders that cleaning up the environment in the country is a top priority. Last week, the concentration of fine particulates that pose the greatest risk to human health rose to 666, more than 25 times World Health Organization-recommended levels.
But who was to blame?
The latest round of bad air was the result of “factory discharges and unfavorable weather conditions,” the state-run China Daily reported, citing National Meteorological Center Senior Engineer Xue Jianjun. China will strengthen inspections of polluting factories, Environmental Protection Minister Chen Jining said, according to China Daily.
China urged local governments to start emergency measures to cope with the pollution, according to a statement on the Ministry of Environmental Protection on Sunday. Emissions from automobiles are the main contributor to Beijing’s smog, the ministry said on Dec. 1.
Some foreign firms let staff work from home...
Latest: Due to "red alert" (highest level) on #airpollution [15] in Beijing, some foreign firms let staff work from home pic.twitter.com/2KlpaRrlQD [16]
— George Chen (@george_chen) December 7, 2015 [17]
Today appears no better either as at 7am, the air quialityindex is already at extreme highs...
And so begins the first air pollution red alert in Beijing history. At 7am air quality index is 371 #COP21 [18] pic.twitter.com/Jksko7yN68 [19]
— Tom Phillips (@tomphillipsin) December 7, 2015 [20]
And finally, as we have expressed numerous times, SCMP's George Chen raises a very valid question...
I begin to wonder how Beijing's first "red alert" (highest) on #airpollution [15] may get quarterly economic growth to slow down even further...
— George Chen (@george_chen) December 7, 2015 [21]
Because who can blame them for weak economic performance when they are "saving the world... from its deadliest threat.
