Beijing Takes Drastic Steps to Curb Pollution

Andrew Calhoun, Jr. / 4-16-08 / 4:50 PM / Pollution

Officials in Beijing have recently announced their detailed plans and steps to newsgroups about how they intend to curb the impeding extreme air pollution in time for the summer Olympic games. In the past, China's government has spent over 18.4 billion dollars in the past decade to adjust air pollution problems within the country. The article mentions how "all quarrying, cement production, outdoor spray painting and other outdoor use of toxic solvents will be banned" during this time period to ensure air quality is at it maximum peak.

Among other plans, Beijing plans to halt all construction between July 20 to September 20 in the capital; the time period in which the Olympic games and the paralympic games will occur. Already existing plants that produce materials like steel and chemicals have been required to reduce their pollution emissions by 30% or face the possibility of being shut down by the government. Even with officials laying out plans like these, the total cost to shutdown these plants, halt construction and basically restrict growth is unknown. As for the businesses that will be effected by these new regulations during that time period, the article states that compensation hasn't been arranged as of yet. One possible form of compensation those companies that are normally subject to a pollution/emissions tax might be sparred from having to pay them. As for the migrant construction workers, the article states that they're "unlikely to be compensated and it is expected the city will firmly encourage them to leave before the Games."

http://www.smh.com.au/news/beijing2008/beijing-takes-drastic-steps-to-curb-pollution/2008/04/15/1208025190052.html