China aims to speed up its environmental protection - especially the reduction of smog in and around Beijing - in its push toward winning the 2022 Olympic Games.
Clean energy will be developed and eco-friendly technologies will be used extensively in the coming years in Beijing and surrounding cities, according to Olympic candidacy files that were released on Monday.
Measures to protect forests, wetlands and the atmosphere will improve the environment in Beijing and Zhangjiakou, and elevate air quality in 2022 to WHO standards.
The local organizing committee will abide by national laws on energy, environment, architecture and resources, and the requirements of the carbon emissions reduction plan of the Bei jing-Tianjin-Hebei region.
The files also said the organizing committee will adopt international sustainable management approaches.
Beijing is carrying out the Clean Air Action Plan 2013-2017, which has measures including:
- Significantly reducing the use of coal from 23 million metric tons to less than 10 million tons, developing and using photovoltaic and wind power, reducing emissions from automobiles and implementing the China VI emissions standard (equivalent to EURO VI);
- Strictly enforcing industrial environmental standards to shut down and phase out 1,200 enterprises with high emissions.
Investment from the municipal government to improve air quality is expected to reach 48.1 billion yuan ($7.82 billion), while investment from social sectors is expected to be 760 billion yuan by 2017, a strong guarantee for the significant improvement of air quality in Beijing and its surrounding areas.