Beijing residents have been wowed by the clear blue skies which have been exposed due to the emergency pollution controls implemented for the Olympics and the citizens are clamouring for a continuation of these measures which are helping to bring the cities air quality closer to international standards.
Due to traffic restrictions, closure of the worst industrial polluters and a construction ban, the cities air is cleaner than it has been in decades. Although the city is far from being unpoluted. The Chinese are revelling in the splendour of their Olympic ceremony, however should the environmentally beneficial changes be lapsed with the closing of the Games?
As the 29th Olympic Games drew to a close on Sunday, many citizens, at least in Beijing, seemed concerned about the long term practical impact the games would make on China. There is a great deal of national pride from the Chinese however, it seems prudent for them to appreciate how behind the rest of the world they are in terms of cutting pollution and protecting the environment, rather than getting carried away with their success during the Olympics.
Progress is beginning to be made, in the province surrounding Beijing as factories are not permitted to reopen until they have upgraded their facilities to meet basic emissions standards. “This is not just about making sure the air is clean for the Olympics, we intend to clean things up over the long-term as well.” Guo Jun, deputy director of the State Environmental Protection Bureau in Langfang city.
In Chinese internet chat rooms, the political issues and debates concerning rising powers have taken a back seat to those commenting on the clear blue skies and demanding that the government should maintain at least some of this pollution control. “I never realised Beijing could be so fresh,” wrote ‘Mumu’ in a blog. “I don’t want to be stuck choking on exhaust fumes in traffic on September 21″, (when they will see an end to the emergency pollution measures with the closing of the Paralympics).
According to the coordinator of a survey addressing the publics’ opinions on the restrictions allowing car owners to only drive every other day, Zhang Shiqiu, professor of environmental policy at Peking University and an adviser on air quality to the Beijing Olympics says that people are very satisfied with the results.
Public transport had been vastly improved for the games. It is possible that the government will consider extending the clean-up plan beyond the remit of the Olympics. “Although traffic restrictions are temporary they are a good example for future policy-making,” Zhang Shiqui said. “We have seen how the restrictions work by easing traffic jams and improving air quality.”
Zhang Shiqui spoke about the positive effects the Olympics had had on citizens environmental awareness, “The biggest effect of the Olympics has been to change people’s concept of environmental protection … It’s given them an understanding that sacrifices must be made if they want clean air.”