Fireworks and coal use increase pollution levels in the Year of the Dragon
Fireworks increase the level of dangerous particulate matter in the air of Chinese cities. China has become the world’s largest importer of coal, a dirty energy. For Wen Jiabao, China cannot do without it for now.
Beijing (AsiaNews) – Celebrations for the Lunar New Year have given China a new record in terms of air pollution. In the first two days of the Year of the Dragon, Beijing has seen levels of small particulate matter leap to a high of almost 1,600 micrograms per cubic metre, roughly 80 times the pollution level of the previous evening.
The same is true for Shanghai, where gunpowder-fuelled revelry drove readings of PM2.5—particles 2.5 microns or less in diameter—to a peak of 245 micrograms per cubic metre, whilst the level of larger PM10 particulate hit 318 micrograms per cubic metre.
These spikes show that, despite growing environmental awareness, anti-pollution campaigners have their work cut out to persuade people that, in addition to industrial emissions, other practices cause pollution as well.
In order to reduce the use of firecrackers, crucial to all Chinese festivities and the main form of entertainment during the spring festival, the most committed activists have turned to the Internet and local media. However, whilst the government is formally committed to reduce pollution, it has done so far very little against fireworks.
For China, it is a serious matter. The latest national figures show that, even though it is also the world's biggest coal producer, the mainland has become the world’s largest importer of coal, a highly polluting fuel China’s industrial sector appears unable to do without. Last year in fact, it imported 182.4 million tonnes of the fuel, 10.8 per cent higher than a year earlier.
For Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao, whilst China is actively involved in adopting clean technologies and renewable energies, for now it cannot do without coal to support its process of industrialisation and urbanisation. Therefore, until 2020, China's economic structure will have low energy efficiency, high-energy consumption and high emissions.
The same is true for Shanghai, where gunpowder-fuelled revelry drove readings of PM2.5—particles 2.5 microns or less in diameter—to a peak of 245 micrograms per cubic metre, whilst the level of larger PM10 particulate hit 318 micrograms per cubic metre.
These spikes show that, despite growing environmental awareness, anti-pollution campaigners have their work cut out to persuade people that, in addition to industrial emissions, other practices cause pollution as well.
In order to reduce the use of firecrackers, crucial to all Chinese festivities and the main form of entertainment during the spring festival, the most committed activists have turned to the Internet and local media. However, whilst the government is formally committed to reduce pollution, it has done so far very little against fireworks.
For China, it is a serious matter. The latest national figures show that, even though it is also the world's biggest coal producer, the mainland has become the world’s largest importer of coal, a highly polluting fuel China’s industrial sector appears unable to do without. Last year in fact, it imported 182.4 million tonnes of the fuel, 10.8 per cent higher than a year earlier.
For Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao, whilst China is actively involved in adopting clean technologies and renewable energies, for now it cannot do without coal to support its process of industrialisation and urbanisation. Therefore, until 2020, China's economic structure will have low energy efficiency, high-energy consumption and high emissions.
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