Air Pollution
Monitoring & Management
in China
Public concerns
as 70% of the energy consumed in China relies on coal burning. But this year, things turn out to be horrifying. Thick fog encased the entire mega-city for a week, witnessing a spike in respiratory cases of children. TV news reported a vendor of protective mask had increasingly record-breaking sales recently. And a catastrophe appeared in the most dramatic form in mid-January this year when poisonous pollutants smothered northern China and made air in Beijing hazardous to breathe… I would have been extremely
governmental organizations and more importantly, ordinary citizens. Nevertheless, public attention can only serve as catalyst in the reaction of air pollution governance. Environmental professionals and scientific strategies are substantive reactants in desperate need. Unfortunately, environmental protection authorities in the last few years had lost many of their experts, some of which quitted in despair and others fired by various reasons. Even though there were sufficient experts, another concern focuses on whether the bureaucratic force could consent to take environmental protection into serious consideration.
Imagine you were a parent of a fourth grade boy who is fond of playing basketball (it is as popular among Chinese children and teenagers as baseball among their counterparts in U.S.) outdoor. Winter comes as usual in November with more smoggy days as 70% of the energy consumed in China relies on coal burning. But this year, things turn out to be horrifying. Thick fog encased the entire mega-city for a week, witnessing a spike in respiratory cases of children. TV news reported a vendor of protective mask had increasingly record-breaking sales recently. And a catastrophe appeared in the most dramatic form in mid-January this year when poisonous pollutants smothered northern China and made air in Beijing hazardous to breathe… I would have been extremely anxious about the health of my child. Damage of this kind is in many occasions, irreversible. In times of the urgent health crisis caused by atrocious air quality, weak administrative determination on tackling the program further resulted in public outcry.
Sources:
1. Record Beijing air pollution forces warning from China officials to keep kids indoors. CBSNews. January 14, 2013. http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-202_162-57563772/record-beijing-air-pollution-forces-warning-from-china-officials-to-keep-kids-indoors/
2. Charles Zhu. A visual guide to Chinese air pollution. The Atlantic. October 17, 2012. http://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2012/10/a-visual-guide-to-chinese-air-pollution/263698/
Imagine you were a parent of a fourth grade boy who is fond of playing basketball (it is as popular among Chinese children and teenagers as baseball among their counterparts in U.S.) outdoor. Winter comes as usual in November with more smoggy days
Disappointedly, government officials customarily hedged the questions with vague and indirect answers regarding to different monitoring measures and standards that applied. What is the point of withholding the quantified air monitoring results since every single person can tell
anxious about the health of my child. Damage of this kind is in many occasions, irreversible. In times of the urgent health crisis caused by atrocious air quality, weak administrative determination on tackling the program further resulted in public outcry.
• Who should we trust – QUESTION
The most straightforward result of the controversial AQI reader between authority and the U.S. Embassy was public questioning the reliability of the government. There were several smartphone apps that put two real-time readers in blatant comparison. Celebrities and intellectuals began to join the grassroots articulating their doubts on the internet demanding explanation on the reader discrepancy.
Shortly after the “airpocalypse” took place, the internet exploded with voices expressing concerns on the pollution. It raised a buzz through the country that even the State media acknowledged the role of popular bloggers: "A stirring campaign on the country's social network websites… seemed to have gained a satisfying response from the country's policymakers," Xinhua news agency said. The rare down-up mechanism explicitly demonstrated the imperativeness of public’s concern on this crisis.
• What could be done to prevent future incidents - PREDICTION
One bright spot emerging from this crisis is the growing activism of the media, broadening participation of non-
from their own eyes and nose the air quality. How can I believe the problem will be solved if people with legal responsibilities couldn’t even face the fact?
• How soon can the problem be settled - ACTION
The timeline set by the authorities is seldom satisfying. People worried that the well-beings of themselves and their beloved ones may be consumed before any administrative regulations entering into effect. The sense of anxiety expedited grassroots’ participation in this incident.