The Director of the Beijing Environment Protection Bureau Shi Hanmin said public participation is necessary in the quest for more blue skies and a cleaner Beijing at an Olympic news conference yesterday.

"The easy tasks are already done but the problems we are facing now require a lot of work, but may have little effect," said Shi.

"Beijing air quality improved at a rate of about five percent a few years ago, but now it's only two to three percent," Shi said. Although the air quality in Beijing has been improving for eight consecutive years, the city is facing the most difficult stage yet in its air control efforts.

The work that needs to be done now is much harder and demands more support from Beijing citizens.

"It's hard to talk people into giving up their old cars that produce a lot of exhaust if they are still in good condition," said Shi. "But the pollutants from one such car are equivalent to exhaust emissions from 14 EUIII standard cars."

Automobile exhaust has become a major source of air pollution. There are about 300,000 automobiles that emit high levels of exhaust on Beijing's streets.

Beijing has set a target of 245 'blue-sky' days this year, or about 67 percent, four more days than last year. To meet this goal, the government has issued a series of measures such as using 4,000 gas-fueled buses, the largest number in use in one city in the world. Meanwhile, Beijing has also set up a regional coordinating group to ensure blue skies during the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games.

As the city works towards the goal of a 'green' Olympics, increased public consciousness and support are necessary.

In addition, the capital has committed to ensuring that the amount of pollutants such as sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, nitrogen monoxide and particulates in the air will be within the national standard by August 2008, in time for the Games.