Air Pollution: Beijing was once one of the world’s most polluted cities, with people seen walking through smoke-filled streets wearing masks. Similar scenes are now being witnessed in Delhi and NCR. Drawing from its own experience, the Chinese Embassy in India has highlighted the measures Beijing has taken to clean its air – from shutting down heavy industries to phasing out old, highly polluting vehicles and implementing odd-even.
Chinese Embassy spokesperson Yu Jing said, “Both China and India understand how difficult it is to tackle air pollution amid rapid urbanization. While the challenge remains complex, China’s persistent efforts over the past decade have led to significant improvements.”
Describing how Beijing tackled pollution, the spokesperson said, “The first step: controlling vehicle pollution; implementing very strict regulations such as China 6NI (equivalent to Euro 6) and phasing out older, more polluting vehicles.”
He also said that China controlled the number of cars through license-plate lotteries and odd-even/weekday driving rules. “Building one of the world’s largest metro and bus networks and rapidly moving to electric mobility. Working with the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region to reduce pollution.”
Yu Jing also noted that China “closed or relocated more than 3,000 heavy industries. The relocation of Shougang, one of China’s largest steel companies, alone reduced respiratory dust particles by 20 percent.”
The spokesperson said, “Transforming closed factories into parks, commercial zones, cultural and tech hubs. For example, the former site of Shougang became the venue for the 2022 Winter Olympics. Reducing the burden on non-capital activities by relocating wholesale markets, logistics hubs, and some educational and medical institutions.”
“Synchronizing regional integration by shifting general manufacturing to Hebei, while maintaining high-value R&D and services in Beijing.”
Pollution levels in Delhi are very high
Delhi’s Environment Minister said on Wednesday, December 17, that the Delhi government is continuously working to improve air quality in the capital and also announced that 50 percent work from home will now be implemented. Sirsa said, “The pollution levels in Delhi are very high. We’re not expecting any significant improvement in the next few days compared to last year’s figures, so we’re making every effort to improve the situation… We’re continuously working to improve the air quality in the coming week.”
He further said, “50% of the work in Delhi will be work from home, which is a big step. Starting tomorrow, I appeal to the people of Delhi to obtain their PUC (Pollution Under Control) certificate. Without a PUC certificate, they won’t get fuel. Trucks carrying construction material into Delhi have also been banned… I appeal to people coming from outside Delhi to use vehicles that meet Bharat Stage 6 (BS6) emission standards.”
Air Quality Index (AQI)
Delhi’s air quality is often measured using the Air Quality Index (AQI), which categorizes pollution levels from good to hazardous. During periods of high pollution, AQI levels can reach dangerous levels (above 300), which can be detrimental to health, especially for people with respiratory conditions, children, and the elderly.
Health Effects
Exposure to high levels of air pollution can lead to:
Respiratory problems such as asthma, bronchitis, and other chronic lung diseases
Increased risk of heart disease
Reduced lung development in children
Premature death due to heart or respiratory diseases
Eye irritation, fatigue, and headaches