Games pollution alert ready
2008-06-13 20:37
Beijing - Chinese authorities will predict the degree of pollution in Olympic venues three days in advance, state media said on Friday in the latest attempt to calm environmental concerns ahead of the Games.
A computer analysis system was put in place to give authorities enough time to take emergency measures in case of extreme conditions, like heavy pollution, the official Xinhua news agency said.
A researcher at the Chinese Academy of Sciences,Wang Zifa, said: "Our multiple technological means can monitor Beijing's neighbours, such as Hebei and Tianjin and analyse the forming of pollutants in the areas to make the forecast more precise."
The forecasts will give authorities enough time to take emergency measures if need be. Development of the forecasting system originated in the United States and Europe, Wang said.
Beijing's air quality is routinely rated among the worst in the world by international agencies, such as the United Nations and the World Bank, with the rising number of cars, industrial pollution and dust storms among the culprits.
China says it has spent $16bn over the past decade to improve the environment and air quality by shifting polluting factories out of the capital and raising car emissions standards, among other measures.
However, Beijing's poor environment remains a major concern for the International Olympic Committee and some athletes.
IOC chief Jacques Rogge last year said that endurance events could be postponed or cancelled to protect competitors' health during the August 8-24 Games.
Hoping to avoid that embarrassment, Beijing plans to ban around half the city's three-million-plus cars from the roads during the Games, while some factories will be closed down and construction work ordered to halt.
Surrounding cities and provinces will join in the anti-pollution fight by taking similar measures.
- SAPA