Just yesterday, news broke that China had surpassed the United States as the world’s biggest polluter, a figure staked largely on the emissions of its enormous fleet of vehicles.
The study, conducted by the U.S.’s University of California, claims China’s pollution levels could have been the highest in the world as much as two years ago, but models that estimated China’s emissions were underestimating the country’s incredible growth rate.
China’s efforts to curb the output of its multi-million car populous in Beijing led the city to ban half the vehicles from the streets on alternate days, based on the last digit in the car’s license plate number. The plan started in August of last year and is expected to continue at least through the end of the Games.
The multi-tiered approach, which also includes cleaning up coal plants and smoking bans in stadiums and the like, is having a measurable effect. The number of days of cleaner air rose from 100 in 1998 to 246 last year, according to Beijing’s Environmental Protection Bureau.
Reader Comments
Wed Apr 16 2008 3:31 PM
Gus says
So what? Right after the last cemera crew leaves everything will go back to "normal".
China and India are going to be two of the major players in the coming world economies, but they are both so f-ed up at the core...
Wed Apr 16 2008 6:29 PM
Ink Master says
"So what? Right after the last cemera crew leaves everything will go back to “normalâ€
Wed Apr 16 2008 8:20 PM
Gus says
And the next time you catch a flu, thank China, thay all come from there, according to new research posted on msnbc...
Thu Apr 17 2008 2:18 AM
Wizards Lore says
very true Ink Master.
gus im not happy with whats happening in Asia as its on my doorstep in Australia but ultimately im happy about it asa its the reason i have now got myself a great job. So good and bad really
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