Finally, a red-alert for Beijing smog (Updated)

Beijing's capital on Tuesday finally implemented drastic measures to curb extreme smog, ordering half the city's cars off the roads, closing industrial plants and even banning barbecues.

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Wednesday morning update

Beijing slashes traffic in pollution red alert

Beijing, AFP – Half of Beijing's private cars were ordered off the streets Tuesday and many construction sites and schools closed after authorities in China's smog-shrouded capital responded to scathing public criticism with their first-ever red alert for pollution.

A grey haze hung over the city of around 21.5 million people, with levels of PM2.5 – harmful microscopic particles that penetrate deep into the lungs – reaching 350 micrograms per cubic metre according to the US embassy, which issues independent readings.

Last week the city was enveloped in a toxic soup, cutting visibility severely and sending PM 2.5 levels as high as 634 micrograms per cubic metre.The World Health Organization's recommended maximum exposure is 25.

On its social media feed, Beijing's environmental protection bureau posted a steady stream of comments in an attempt to demonstrate that its inspectors were working hard to ensure clean air.

Administrators said they were "dealing with" businesses that had violated the orders and had disciplined several factories, in one case with a 30,000 yuan ($4,700) fine.

One bus manufacturer, they wrote, had reduced production from 30 vehicles a day to around six.
Beijing's stepped up response came after city authorities were heavily criticised for only issuing an orange alert for last week's pollution.

Tuesday's story

Morning commuters wear protective masks to shield from extreme smog in central Beijing December 8, 2015 as China's capital issues its first ever "red alert" for pollution. REUTERS/Damir Sagolj

Beijing declares first-ever red alert for pollution

Beijing, AFP – China's capital issued its first-ever red alert for pollution on Monday, as a new blanket of choking smog was projected to descend on the city.

From Tuesday morning half of Beijing's private cars will be ordered off the road, with an odd-even number plate system in force, and 30 percent of government vehicles also garaged.

Outdoor construction sites will cease operations, but only some industrial plants will have to "implement measures to limit or stop production", said Beijing's Environmental Protection Bureau on its verified social media account, adding that fireworks and barbecues were also banned.

"People should to the best of their ability reduce outdoor activities," it said. "If you are engaging in outdoor activities you should wear a mask or take other protective measures."

Kindergartens, primary and middle schools were urged to close, it added, without explicitly making the measures mandatory.

A red alert, issued when severe smog is expected to last more than 72 hours, is the highest of Beijing's four-tiered, colour-coded warning system.

The capital has never issued it since the adoption of an emergency response programme for air pollution in 2013, despite frequent bouts of serious smog.

Monday's red alert came just a week after a thick grey haze shrouded the city with concentrations of PM2.5 – harmful microscopic particles that penetrate deep into the lungs – as high as 634 micrograms per cubic metre.

A labourer works on top of a construction site of a business building amid heavy smog after the city issued its first ever "red alert" for air pollution, in central Beijing, China, December 8, 2015. In an online statement, the Beijing city government ordered all outdoor construction work to stop on red alert days, besides urging schools to close. REUTERS/Jason Lee

The reading given by the US embassy dwarfed the maximum recommended by the World Health Organisation, which is just 25 micrograms per cubic metre.

Most of China's greenhouse gas emissions come from the burning of coal for electricity and heating, which spikes when demand peaks in winter and is the main cause of smog.

The smog is a source of enduring public anger in China and Chinese social media users deemed the government's protection measures lacklustre.

"If you don't give us a day off school, what's the point of even talking about this?" asked one.

Many railed that the measures inconvenienced people without dealing with the real sources of smog, with one user saying: "Those big trucks with excessive emissions, steel plants of excess capacity, and coal mines – going after any one of those would be better than fixating on cars if you really want to fix the haze; that's useless."

Pollution is blamed for causing hundreds of thousands of premature deaths every year.

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