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Beijing chokes on smog as China tries to balance industrial recovery and greener growth
- Poor air quality is linked to heavy industries kicking into action to boost China’s economic recovery from the pandemic
- Beijing has set ambitious green targets in its 14th five-year plan but they are in contrast to continued investment in fossil fuels, say environmentalists
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Beijing and much of the northern China have been blanketed in choking smog since Sunday, as heavy industry steps up production to help with the country’s economic recovery.
Beijing sounded the alarm about severe air pollution and stopped all outdoor activities in schools and kindergartens on Wednesday, forecasting a “medium to severe pollution process” until Monday in Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei and neighbouring areas.
According to the air quality index issued by the US embassy, Beijing’s PM2.5 reading was a “very unhealthy” 215 at 10am on Thursday.
China’s weather authorities blamed the smog on low pressure, high humidity and generally unfriendly weather for pollutant diffusion, which coincided with the annual parliamentary sessions, an event putting China’s capital under the world’s spotlight.
However, analysts noted that humming production in steel, cement and other heavy polluters are to blame, with economic recovery in full swing since the coronavirus pandemic was brought under control.
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