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Further Ban on Coal in Preparation for 'Green' Olympics

Beijing is to reduce its coal consumption by a further one-third by 2007 to cut down on air pollution before the 2008 Beijing Olympics, the target being 19 million tons from the current 26 million tons.

The Beijing Games' organizing committee, BOCOG, has released its draft plan for improving the environment before the Olympics. It suggests that air quality remains the top concern for the event, and that there is some way to go from Beijing's present environmental status to creating an ideal Olympic situation.

Natural gas will be one of the main fuels to replace coal. A new natural gas pipeline is due to be completed before 2008, bringing the city's total gas capacity to five billion cubic meters, about four times the present amount. More than 200 enterprises inside the Fourth Ring Road and in south-eastern suburbs will rearrange their industrial structure or simply move out before 2008 to reduce pollution in the area.

Tight restrictions on vehicle emissions will also be implemented as the Beijing government encourages citizens to leave their cars behind and use public transport whenever possible. Low-pollution fuel will be used in the majority of vehicles by 2007, and citizens will not be allowed to use vehicles that have been driven for more than 15 years. Dust control is also high on the agenda as the city aims to eradicate the high-pollution seasonal sandstorms. A 12,500-hectare "green barrier" of trees and plants is being created on the outskirts of the city, more than half of which is expected to be greened by 2007. Beijing officials say they are confident that the sandstorms can be controlled, and have pledged they will not disrupt the Beijing Olympics.