Capital’s timely new action plan will bolster defense of blue sky

SOME PARTS OF NORTH CHINA have been enshrouded in smog since Saturday, the first serious air pollution the region has seen this year. Beijing Youth Daily comments:

The air of late autumn in the north is supposed to be clear and crisp, and Beijing, at the heart of the region, had seen a constant improvement of its air quality in the first nine months this year.

The smoggy days should remind the people that air pollution in North China is far from being resolved, and further endeavors continue to be needed.

In fact, in the first three quarters of this year, the air quality in Beijing was really good. From January to September, the average concentration of PM2.5 in Beijing was 50 micrograms per cubic meter, a drop of 16.7 percent.

The improved air quality is the result of concerted efforts. However, it is still necessary to continue to work hard to control emissions. This will become even more evident after the heating system is fired up for the winter.

Last month, Beijing’s three-year action plan to combat air pollution was officially released, which has the obvious goal of improving the ambient air quality.

Previously, the sources of pollution

were relatively concentrated, and the relevant departments could eliminate them by strictly enforcing the law. At the current stage, various types of pollution sources are characterized by small dispersion and numerous factors, making the process of air pollution control more complicated and arduous.

In Beijing, vehicle emissions and construction dust are two major sources of pollutants. To win the blue sky defense war, the relevant departments need to reduce the number of diesel trucks on the roads, and encourage people to use public transport. The use of electric buses, sanitation and rental vehicles should also be accelerated. At the same time, construction sites must take dust control measures.

Driven by the continuous efforts of the central environmental protection inspectors, all localities are paying greater attention to environmental protection. The central and local governments will continue to exert their strength to win the blue sky defense war.