Home / Environment / News Tools: Save | Print | E-mail | Most Read | Comment
Pollution challenge for Olympics: UN
Adjust font size:

Air pollution remains a significant challenge for the 2008 Beijing Olympics, according to a United Nations environmental report released Thursday, but Beijing officials expressed confidence in handling the problem.

The independent appraisal follows a report this month by the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad (BOCOG) that about 120 billion yuan (US$16 billion) had been spent on environment-related projects from 1998 to 2006.

Workers stand near the Olympic Stadium, also known as "The Bird's Nest", amidst hazy conditions in Beijing October 25. Beijing's air pollution remains a concern for the 2008 Olympics, even though the city is well on its way to fulfilling the environmental pledges made when it bid to host the Games, a United Nations report said on Thursday.

Achim Steiner, executive director of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), said that funds for improving the environment "appear to have been well spent".

The money will be even more well spent if the measures undertaken were adopted across the country as a "real and lasting nationwide legacy", he said.

The UNEP's report praised the city for waste management, cleaner transport systems, water treatment capabilities and creating urban green belts including the 580-hectare Olympic Forest Park.

However, concerns remain over air pollution, most of which is "exacerbated" by the city's geographical location. The report said that surrounding mountain ranges block air circulation and prevent the dispersion of pollutants.

The levels of small particles in the atmosphere, which are hazardous to health, have at times exceeded World Health Organization air quality guidelines.

The excessive use of coal and a rising number of new vehicles have slowed the pace of air quality improvement, and the goal cannot be achieved over a short period, the UNEP said.

But Khalid Malik, the UN representative in Beijing, said: "You have to bear in mind this is the first time the Olympics is being held in a developing country".

Beijing has committed to a cleaner Games and long-term environmental quality with major polluting factories in the capital relocated or refitted, among other measures.

"Beijing has accelerated building of urban infrastructure suitable for sustainable development," Yu Xiaoxuan, deputy director of BOCOG's construction and environment department, said.

Yu said air quality will meet Games standards.

The report Thursday praised BOCOG for accelerating the phasing out of ozone-depleting chemicals and promoting energy efficiency and green energy appliances in buildings and sports venues.

Officials from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) are also confident that air pollution can be adequately addressed.

"The IOC was well aware of the air pollution issue as early as seven years ago when Beijing was bidding for the Games. We can only say that six years later, they (BOCOG) lived up to their commitments," said Hein Verbruggen, chairman of the IOC Coordination Commission for the 2008 Games, which concluded a three-day inspection of Beijing's preparations Thursday.

(China Daily October 26, 2007)

Tools: Save | Print | E-mail | Most Read
Comment
Pet Name
Anonymous

China Archives
Related >>
- Promise of Clean Air During Olympics
- Expert: Air Quality Important for Olympic Athletes
- Beijingers Split over Air Quality Exercise
- Greater efforts needed to clear Beijing smog
- Tighter controls on air pollution
Most Viewed >>
Air Quality 
Cities Major Pollutant Air Quality Level
Beijing particulate matter II
Shanghai particulate matter III1
Guangzhou sulfur dioxide II
Chongqing particulate matter III2
Xi'an particulate matter III1
Most Read
- White paper on energy
- Endangered monkeys grow in number
- Yangtze River's Three Gorges 2 mln years in the making
- The authorities sets sights on polluted soil
- China, US benefit from clean energy
NGO Events Calendar Tips
- Hand in hand to protect endangered animals and plants
- Changchun, Mini-marathon Aimed at Protecting Siberian Tiger
- Water Walk by Nature University
- Green Earth Documentary Salon
- Prof. Maria E. Fernandez to Give a Lecture on Climate Change
More
Archives
UN meets on climate change
The UN Climate Change Conference brought together representatives of over 180 countries and observers from various organizations.
Panda Facts
A record 28 panda cubs born via artificial insemination have survived in 2006.
South China Karst
Rich and unique karst landforms located in south China display exceptional natural beauty.
Saving the Tibetan Antelopes
The rare animals survive in the harsh natural environment of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.
More
Laws & Regulations
- Forestry Law of the People's Republic of China
- Meteorology Law of the People's Republic of China
- Fire Control Law of the People's Republic of China
- Law on Protecting Against and Mitigating Earthquake Disasters
- Law of the People's Republic of China on Conserving Energy
More
Links:
State Environmental Protection Administration
Ministry of Water Resources
Ministry of Land and Resources
China Environmental Industry Network
Chengdu Giant Panda Research Base