China's representatives to the International Olympic Committee pledged that, if chosen to host the 2008 Olympics, Beijing would reduce its ambient air pollution to levels presently found in Paris. To attain this difficult goal, the Chinese government has reportedly earmarked RMB 45 billion (US$ 5.4 billion) to solve some of the city's most serious environmental problems.
In an attempt to control dust storms, Beijing will by 2005, take steps to increase the forested area surrounding the city by 50% through the addition of a 125-km tree belt.
In another dramatic bid to improve air quality, 90% of the city's 20,000-odd public buses will switch from diesel to natural gas by 2008, up from the present level of 60%. Furthermore, 60% of the city's 67,000 taxis will also use natural gas by 2008, up from the 40% to be found today.
Beijing will also move the 110 polluting factories now inside the fourth ring road--which have a total floor area of 6.13 million m2 and primarily serve the chemical, pharmaceutical, and textile industries-- to locations outside of the fourth ring road by 2007. According to the Beijing Municipal EPB, this move will cut the total amount of inner-city land devoted to industrial purposes by half, that is, to 7%. In addition, to safeguard the quality of water in, around, and under Beijing, the city will require the treatment of 90% of its sewage in modern treatment plants by 2010, up from the present level of 60%.
