On the Ball: Ready for the Olympics?

It's almost 2008, and Beijing's air is still polluted

Posted by Sarah K. Burkhalter at 2:18 PM on 27 Dec 2007

The city of Beijing has been striving to clear its air for the sake of the Olympic athletes who will descend upon the city this coming summer -- but whether it will be able to pull off blue skies remains to be seen. Beijingers were warned to stay inside today, as pollution hit "as bad as it can get," according to a spokesperson from the city's Environmental Protection Bureau, who adds, "This is as bad as it has been all year." The International Olympic Committee has warned organizers that it will reschedule athletic events if air quality is a threat to athletes.

Nonetheless, "We are determined to ensure that the air conditions meet the necessary standards in August 2008," says Liu Qi, president of the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games. The city has relocated some factories and will make others cease production during the Olympics; it also plans to keep some cars off the road during the two-week span this summer. About 1,000 new cars hit Beijing's streets every day. The crackdown on pollution is even affecting outdoor kebab vendors.

In other green Olympic considerations, the Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics Gymnasium, which will be used a competition venue, was built green; the city has made commitments on sewage treatment and water recycling; and officials deny rumors that meat producers are preparing special "Olympic pork" for athletes, declaring that the meat fed to the masses meets safety standards and needn't be shunned. The city has also diverted water (from other drought-stricken areas) to boost water supplies and keep its rowing venue afloat.

And in other Olympic news, the speed-skating venue for Vancouver 2010 will recover its heat to stay uber-efficient, while London 2012 plans to measure and offset its entire carbon footprint and use low-carbon fuel for a carbon-neutral Olympic flame.

For story: On the Ball: Ready for the Olympics?
2 Comments | Post a Comment

Taking Bets

Yah, the air was nasty yesterday. Today it is raining (may turn into snow) and the air is beautifully clean!!! One reason the air gets nasty sometimes is that we get fog. Fog plus car exhaust is smog, yechh. (I always laugh when I read about fog in NYC and people say, oh, but it's okay, NOT!! All big cities that have lots of cars never have very clean fog, when I lived in SF, if you left clothes outside, they came in with black streaks on them.)

Since we know what causes the bad air, the government has two plans, one long term (for those of us who live here) and one short term for the Olympics. They can order government employees to not drive during the Olympics. (Think about national capitals, LOTS of government employees.) They can ask other people not to drive, they can implement whatever regulations are needed.

So, it should generally be expected that the main sources of air pollution can be controlled during the Olympics.

Longer term, one of the new subway lines just opened, it is a beauty!! And at least two more will be done by the Olympics, with a whole bunch in the years to follow.

Plus, higher standards for auto emissions, and plans to build hybrids along with serious looks at hydrogen cars (I know, I know, but it's not my issue, just telling you), and long term renewable power.

The worst days always come in the winter, a lot of the poor still use coal for heat. It will take time to change that. And the outdoor kebab vendors can put out a lot of smoke!!! Some of them are outdoors in front of restaurants, and are not tiny little one man operations. (speaking as a non meat eater.)

The government will do everything to ensure that people feel safe. I eat quite well, thank you (smile, looking at belly, frowning). How's the e-coli beef in America??

patrick in Beijing

by bookerly at 4:38 PM on 27 Dec 2007

Funny

Everyone worries so much about Beijing, but didn't worry about Athens??? What did they do??

"Athens fares particularly badly because of the high level of pollution in the city which has been identified as the cause of respiratory illnesses. Milan, Rome and Lisbon are also at the bottom end of the rankings."

http://www.guardian.co.uk/population/Story/0,,1159267,00. ...

patrick in Beijing

by bookerly at 9:39 PM on 27 Dec 2007

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