China's Olympics

In pursuit of its goals to improve the living standards of its citizens and promote the city's sustainable development, Beijing has undertaken an environmental protection programme gigantic in scope and scale and accounting for $l2billion out of the total Games budget of $34billion. The city has already made great strides in line with international standards to improve the quality of its environment and in particular to reduce air pollution.

Air quality is now at Level 3 on the international scale and, with the closure of many smokestack factories (already out of date and uncompetitive in the new economy), the city expects to reach Level 2, comparable to cities in developed countries, by 2007. The city plans to eliminate coal-burning boilers, prohibit any kind of burning in the open, and substantially increase the ratio of clean energy resources by promoting the use of natural gas and developing solar and geo-thermal energy. By 2007 Beijing will be using between four and five times as much natural gas as in 2 000. The city will also implement strict vehicle emission standards. Again by 2007, 70 per cent of taxis and 90 per cent of buses will be clean energy vehicles. Main ozone-depleting substances will be phased out by 2005. Water quality in reservoirs will also be improved and the forests in their catchment areas better protected. Major tree plantings in the form of three greenbelts are in progress to control soil erosion in the hinterland of the city by providing 50 per cent forest cover of the area. Along with wetlands and bird habitats, these will provide eco-shelters to give significant protection to bio-diversity. Nature reserves will cover at least 8 per cent of the total city area. The city will also complete the upgrading of its water treatment and sewerage systems. The newly completed Gaobeidian sewage plant was ready in time for inspection by the IOC technical team. Industrial solid and hazardous waste will be managed to modern standards and by 2007 almost all domestic waste will be segregated, treated or recycled. It should be possible to drink tap water within the city before long. Beijing is going beyond infrastructure projects to create a green city. Large-scale plantings of trees and grass will cover up to 40 per cent of the city proper. Environmentally friendly materials and techniques will be used in the design and construction of the Olympic venues, equipment and facilities themselves. Public education will be mounted to encourage participation in environmental and wildlife protection and eco-tourism will be developed. Tobacco advertising will be prohibited in public places and the mass media and the designation of no-smoking environments encouraged. Issues remain, on this and other aspects of Beijing's development programme, about responsibility, accountability and enforcement (traditionally less well managed in China), but the city, in association with the government, has publicly committed itself to measurable targets, and progress will fall under ever-closer international scrutiny as 2008 draws nearer.