Beijing will close 2,500 small polluting firms this year in its latest effort to combat pollution. Pollution is a sensitive topic in China, with thousands of protests sparked every year by concerns about environmental degradation, particularly from factories. Four districts in the capital, which has been hit by bouts of choking smog this winter, will be required to shut down 2,500 companies by the end of the year. Last month Beijing issued its second ever “red alert” over heavy air pollution, closing schools and banning outdoor construction.
Official data showed Beijing’s average PM2.5 reading in 2015 was 80.6 micrograms per cubic meter, 1.3 times more than the national standard. China has vowed to slash coal consumption and shut down polluting industries, but environmental officials admit the country is unlikely to meet state air quality standards until at least 2030.
Did You Know???
- It is estimated that we breathe 20,000 liters of air each day. This means the more polluted the air is, the more we breathe into our lungs dangerous chemicals.
- Rising levels of air pollution in Beijing has brought a new disease – Beijing cough.
- It is estimated that 750,000 people die in china prematurely due to air pollution.
- According to a World Health Organisation (WHO)study, Delhi has surpassed Beijing and is currently the most polluted city in the world.
- People who live near high traffic roads face greater risk of cancer, heart disease, asthma and bronchitis as these places contain more concentrated levels of air pollution.
