More smog due as winter begins
Updated: 2015-10-30 07:30
By Zheng Jinran(China Daily)
|
|||||||||
Unusual weather patterns this winter may lead to more smoggy days in Northern China as emissions from coal-fired boilers become trapped close to the ground, the national environmental watchdog warned on Thursday.
Thermal inversions due to the El Nino weather phenomenon-which keep warm and dry air near the ground-and an increase in windless days will reduce the dispersal of air pollution during the heating season, the Ministry of Environmental Protection said.
China, especially its northern region, has a 20 percent higher concentration of PM2.5-particulate matter with a diameter less than 2.5 microns-in winter than the annual average mainly because of coal-fired heating, a major cause of smog, the ministry said.
Changchun, in northeastern China's Jilin province, had severe air pollution when its heating season opened on Sunday, covering the city with thick, smelly smog, the Changchun environmental protection bureau said.
From November 2013 to March 2014, the average concentration of PM2.5 in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region was 111 micrograms per cubic meter, 1.27 times the annual level, the ministry said.
On Thursday, the ministry released a statement requiring governments to expand their efforts to reduce polluting emissions during the heating season.
They must phase out outdated coal-fired boilers as planned before the season begins and guarantee that emissions from the boilers meet national standards. Any government leaders responsible for ineffective efforts to curb emissions will face tough penalties, the statement said.
Beijing, which frequently experiences severe air pollution in the heating season, will focus on heating facility inspections in November, Zhao Zhiwei, deputy head of the municipal environmental monitoring team, said on Thursday.
"We will keep closely monitoring emissions from boilers and major companies that burn coal, gas and other fossil fuels," he said.
- Insurance for caring services sought in rapidly aging capital
- Criminal Law amended to combat terrorist activities
- Swimmers battle against the cold in ice-covered river
- Silent disco yoga class in HK quiets body and mind
- Endangered storks flock to reserve in record numbers
- Green victory in court seen as setting trend
- Chinese go the distance for marathon
- First made-in-China large plane rolls off assembly lines
- Mega projects undertaken in 2011-2015
- The world in photos: Oct 26 - Nov 1
- Art installations brighten Shanghai subway
- Radwanska masters art of finishing on a high note
- Nanjing Chamber of Commerce sets up in Silicon Valley
- South Korean President welcomes Premier Li Keqiang
Most Viewed
Editor's Picks
8 highlights about V-day Parade |
Glimpses of Tibet: Plateaus, people and faith |
Chinese entrepreneurs remain optimistic despite economic downfall |
50th anniversary of Tibet autonomous region |
Tianjin explosions: Deaths, destruction and bravery |
Cinemas enjoy strong first half |
Today's Top News
Tu first Chinese to win Nobel Prize in Medicine
Huntsman says Sino-US relationship needs common goals
Xi pledges $2 billion to help developing countries
Young people from US look forward to Xi's state visit: Survey
US to accept more refugees than planned
Li calls on State-owned firms to tap more global markets
Apple's iOS App Store suffers first major attack
Japan enacts new security laws to overturn postwar pacifism
US Weekly
Geared to go |
The place to be |