Smog is a health concern in many areas, such as China’s capital.显示翻译
Beijing started the New Year with heavy smog hanging over the city.显示翻译
The skies seemed darker than usual, resulting from the thick clouds mixing with smoke and air pollution.显示翻译
Beijing residents were forced to wear protection from the heavy smog when traveling. Many people wore a mask to cover their nose and mouth. Masks help keep them from breathing the small pieces of unhealthy particulates floating in the air.显示翻译A woman wears a mask as she walks past a construction site as smog continues to choke Beijing, China, January 6, 2017.
A woman wears a mask as she walks past a construction site as smog continues to choke Beijing, China, January 6, 2017.
But China’s capital is not alone. Bloomberg News reports that heavy smog has forced more than 60 cities, including Beijing, to declare health alerts so far this year.显示翻译
Last week, Chinese media announced the government is stopping local weather bureaus from making smog alert declarations. This raised suggestions that the government is trying to withhold information about air pollution.显示翻译
The smog has led to delays of airline flights, problems involving shipping and port operations, and school closings in the north and center of the country.显示翻译
In early January, more than 2,000 people were forced to stay on a cruise ship for two days because of smog. The thick clouds prevented the ship from reaching the port of Tianjin safely, the Beijing Evening News reported.显示翻译
The same week, three northern ports had to suspend loading of goods on ships for one day because air pollution made it difficult to see.显示翻译
The government and environmentalists say the smog is coming from coal-burning factories and power stations.显示翻译
Coal-burning power plants in both China and the United States are responsible for about 40 percent of the world’s carbon emissions. Studies have linked the emissions to rising temperatures in Earth’s atmosphere. The Paris Climate accords aim to slow the release of carbon dioxide and other pollutants into the air. Nearly 200 governments signed the agreements in December 2015.显示翻译Smog streams from chimneys and cooling towers of a steel plant in Taiyuan, Shanxi province, China, December 28, 2016.
Smog streams from chimneys and cooling towers of a steel plant in Taiyuan, Shanxi province, China, December 28, 2016.
In December 2016, the Chinese government released new, five-year targets for cutting its huge coal production.The plan is to reduce the coal production capacity by 800 million metric tons in 2020, the National Development and Reform Commission said.显示翻译
Chinese officials are trying to restrict the use of coal in the very cold, northern parts of the country.显示翻译
Across large areas of the countryside, people burn untreated coal in home stoves to stay warm. Between 1950 and 1980, coal was given to people for free. Today many Chinese still depend on it for heating.显示翻译
Yao Junhua lives in Qi’nan. Here Yao is heard through a translator as he sits by his home stove filled with coal.显示翻译
"I don't think burning coal for heating can cause terrible air pollution. I think it is unfair for them to blame us as the source of pollution. We burn very little coal in villages."显示翻译
Environmentalists say both the large industrial plants and small stoves are responsible for China’s air pollution.显示翻译
Ma Jun is director of the Institute of Public and Environmental Affairs. His words are also translated here:显示翻译
"But for these surrounding areas, it is not necessarily the case that coal burning for household heating is the main source of pollution. The main source of pollution is steel factories and heavy industries, and our priority should be given to shutting down these major polluters."显示翻译
Recently, the government announced plans to establish a new police force. Its officers will deal with environmental crimes as part of efforts to clean up the air and punish repeat polluters.显示翻译
The government has invested billions in clean energy — to cut back on the need for imported oil and gas, as well as coal. Not including large-scale hydroelectric dams, China invested $103 billion last year in wind, solar and other renewable sources, according to the United Nations Environment Program. The United States spent $44 billion.显示翻译
At the same time, China has promised to build a number of new coal plants.显示翻译
Some Beijing residents are angry about living in a polluted cloud.显示翻译
Zhan Yan, who lives in Beijing, is heard through a translator:显示翻译
"I believe we will eventually resolve the air pollution problem, but the thing is how long does it take for them to fix this? If they need a few decades, my child will live under the smog all his life and I will end my life in smog as well. If so, where is the hope? "显示翻译People wearing masks dance at a square amid heavy smog during a polluted day in Fuyang, Anhui province, China, January 3, 2017.
People wearing masks dance at a square amid heavy smog during a polluted day in Fuyang, Anhui province, China, January 3, 2017. >
Some people in China might be trying to escape from the pollution, at least for a short period. Bloomberg says people there are looking to take “lung cleansing” trips to Antarctica and Iceland. It says traveler online searches for terms like “smog escape,” “lung cleansing” and “forests,” had tripled during the thick air pollution time.显示翻译
That information comes from a report titled “Smog Escape Travel Ranking” by the Ctrip.com website. Warm islands like the Seychelles and the Maldives also made the list.显示翻译
As long as coal remains the cheapest way to stay warm, China will have to continue to work for cleaner air.显示翻译
Beijing started the New Year with heavy smog hanging over the city.显示翻译
The skies seemed darker than usual, resulting from the thick clouds mixing with smoke and air pollution.显示翻译
Beijing residents were forced to wear protection from the heavy smog when traveling. Many people wore a mask to cover their nose and mouth. Masks help keep them from breathing the small pieces of unhealthy particulates floating in the air.显示翻译A woman wears a mask as she walks past a construction site as smog continues to choke Beijing, China, January 6, 2017.
A woman wears a mask as she walks past a construction site as smog continues to choke Beijing, China, January 6, 2017.
But China’s capital is not alone. Bloomberg News reports that heavy smog has forced more than 60 cities, including Beijing, to declare health alerts so far this year.显示翻译
Last week, Chinese media announced the government is stopping local weather bureaus from making smog alert declarations. This raised suggestions that the government is trying to withhold information about air pollution.显示翻译
The smog has led to delays of airline flights, problems involving shipping and port operations, and school closings in the north and center of the country.显示翻译
In early January, more than 2,000 people were forced to stay on a cruise ship for two days because of smog. The thick clouds prevented the ship from reaching the port of Tianjin safely, the Beijing Evening News reported.显示翻译
The same week, three northern ports had to suspend loading of goods on ships for one day because air pollution made it difficult to see.显示翻译
The government and environmentalists say the smog is coming from coal-burning factories and power stations.显示翻译
Coal-burning power plants in both China and the United States are responsible for about 40 percent of the world’s carbon emissions. Studies have linked the emissions to rising temperatures in Earth’s atmosphere. The Paris Climate accords aim to slow the release of carbon dioxide and other pollutants into the air. Nearly 200 governments signed the agreements in December 2015.显示翻译Smog streams from chimneys and cooling towers of a steel plant in Taiyuan, Shanxi province, China, December 28, 2016.
Smog streams from chimneys and cooling towers of a steel plant in Taiyuan, Shanxi province, China, December 28, 2016.
In December 2016, the Chinese government released new, five-year targets for cutting its huge coal production.The plan is to reduce the coal production capacity by 800 million metric tons in 2020, the National Development and Reform Commission said.显示翻译
Chinese officials are trying to restrict the use of coal in the very cold, northern parts of the country.显示翻译
Across large areas of the countryside, people burn untreated coal in home stoves to stay warm. Between 1950 and 1980, coal was given to people for free. Today many Chinese still depend on it for heating.显示翻译
Yao Junhua lives in Qi’nan. Here Yao is heard through a translator as he sits by his home stove filled with coal.显示翻译
"I don't think burning coal for heating can cause terrible air pollution. I think it is unfair for them to blame us as the source of pollution. We burn very little coal in villages."显示翻译
Environmentalists say both the large industrial plants and small stoves are responsible for China’s air pollution.显示翻译
Ma Jun is director of the Institute of Public and Environmental Affairs. His words are also translated here:显示翻译
"But for these surrounding areas, it is not necessarily the case that coal burning for household heating is the main source of pollution. The main source of pollution is steel factories and heavy industries, and our priority should be given to shutting down these major polluters."显示翻译
Recently, the government announced plans to establish a new police force. Its officers will deal with environmental crimes as part of efforts to clean up the air and punish repeat polluters.显示翻译
The government has invested billions in clean energy — to cut back on the need for imported oil and gas, as well as coal. Not including large-scale hydroelectric dams, China invested $103 billion last year in wind, solar and other renewable sources, according to the United Nations Environment Program. The United States spent $44 billion.显示翻译
At the same time, China has promised to build a number of new coal plants.显示翻译
Some Beijing residents are angry about living in a polluted cloud.显示翻译
Zhan Yan, who lives in Beijing, is heard through a translator:显示翻译
"I believe we will eventually resolve the air pollution problem, but the thing is how long does it take for them to fix this? If they need a few decades, my child will live under the smog all his life and I will end my life in smog as well. If so, where is the hope? "显示翻译People wearing masks dance at a square amid heavy smog during a polluted day in Fuyang, Anhui province, China, January 3, 2017.
People wearing masks dance at a square amid heavy smog during a polluted day in Fuyang, Anhui province, China, January 3, 2017. >
Some people in China might be trying to escape from the pollution, at least for a short period. Bloomberg says people there are looking to take “lung cleansing” trips to Antarctica and Iceland. It says traveler online searches for terms like “smog escape,” “lung cleansing” and “forests,” had tripled during the thick air pollution time.显示翻译
That information comes from a report titled “Smog Escape Travel Ranking” by the Ctrip.com website. Warm islands like the Seychelles and the Maldives also made the list.显示翻译
As long as coal remains the cheapest way to stay warm, China will have to continue to work for cleaner air.显示翻译
