Lupa Kata Sandi? Klik di Sini

atau Masuk melalui

Belum Memiliki Akun Daftar di Sini


atau Daftar melalui

Sudah Memiliki Akun Masuk di Sini

Konfirmasi Email

Kami telah mengirimkan link aktivasi melalui email ke rudihamdani@gmail.com.

Klik link aktivasi dan dapatkan akses membaca 2 artikel gratis non Laput di koran dan Majalah Tempo

Jika Anda tidak menerima email,
Kirimkan Lagi Sekarang

China's Pollution Readings Rise 5 Percent

Translator

Tempo.co

Editor

Laila Afifa

21 March 2019 14:36 WIB

TEMPO.CO, Shanghai - China's average concentrations of lung-damaging particles known as PM2.5 rose by 5.2 percent in the first two months of the year, the environment ministry said on Thursday, March 21, casting doubt over the country's ability to meet winter targets.

The nation's average PM2.5 readings came in at 61 micrograms per cubic meter for January and February, according to a Ministry of Ecology and Environment survey of 337 cities, with only 83 reaching the national standard of 35 micrograms.

Levels of PM2.5 at 28 cities in the key pollution control region of Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei soared 24 percent over the two-month period from the same time a year ago to an average of 108 micrograms, more than 10 times 10 micrograms recommended as safe by the World Health Organization.

Meanwhile, PM2.5 levels in the 11 cities of the Fenwei Plain, another major smog control zone, surged by 26.6 percent over the period, hitting an average of 119 micrograms.

Read: China to Ban Single-use Plastics by 2025

China forced smog-prone northern cities to implement special emissions restrictions from October 2018 to March 2019 in order to offset rising levels of coal combustion from state heating systems during the winter.

But Reuters calculations based on official data showed that PM2.5 readings in the 39 key northern cities still rose 13 percent over the October-February period.

The 39 cities are under pressure to make year-on-year PM2.5 cuts of around 3 percent from October to March, but Reuters calculations show that only three - Changzhi and Luliang in Shanxi province, and Jining in Shandong - were on course to meet their targets at the end of last month.

The government has previously blamed unfavorable weather conditions for the poor air quality over the period, saying that "a weak El Nino effect" and a subsequent increase in temperature and humidity has made it harder to disperse emissions.

The ministry has promised to crack down on regions that fail to meet targets, regardless of weather conditions, but it remains unclear what punishments they will face.

Read: Total of 79 Cities in China Trigger Air Pollution Alerts: Report

The provinces of Hebei and Shanxi, where eight of China's smoggiest cities were located in 2018, have established a "punishment and reward system" in which the worst-performing districts pay fines to regions that have performed the best.

On Wednesday, Hebei published a list of 14 districts that failed to meet 2018 targets, including major industrial zones in Tangshan, China's biggest steel-producing city.

Communist Party bosses from each of the 14 districts were summoned to the provincial environmental protection bureau to receive public criticism, the provincial government said in a notice. 

REUTERS



China Company Leaders Visit BP Batam, Exploring Business Development Potential

8 jam lalu

China Company Leaders Visit BP Batam, Exploring Business Development Potential

A total of 30 manufacturing company leaders from China and members of the Suzhou Hunan Business Association visited BP Batam on Wednesday.


China's Xi Jinping to Meet with American Executives on Wednesday, Sources Say

2 hari lalu

China's Xi Jinping to Meet with American Executives on Wednesday, Sources Say

China's President Xi Jinping will meet with American business leaders in Beijing on Wednesday, March 27.


Police Thwart Drug Smuggling Attempt from China

2 hari lalu

Police Thwart Drug Smuggling Attempt from China

The China-based international network smuggled the illicit goods into three jars of energy drinks.


China Changes Tack on Water Politics

3 hari lalu

China Changes Tack on Water Politics

Long a source of tension with its neighbours, China's transboundary rivers are opening opportunities for regional cooperation.


Russia, China Veto US-led UN Resolution on Gaza Ceasefire

5 hari lalu

Russia, China Veto US-led UN Resolution on Gaza Ceasefire

UN turned down a resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza after Russia and China vetoed the measure proposed by the United States.


Govt Names 4 Suspects on Karimunjawa Shrimp Ponds Case

7 hari lalu

Govt Names 4 Suspects on Karimunjawa Shrimp Ponds Case

KLHK named four suspects in the environmental destruction of Karimunjawa National Park on Wednesday, March 20, 2024.


Indonesia on Alert to Conflict Risks in South China Sea, Govt Says

8 hari lalu

Indonesia on Alert to Conflict Risks in South China Sea, Govt Says

Indonesia would remain vigilant in responding to potential security issues and open conflict in the South China Sea.


IQAir Report Finds Only 7 Countries Meet WHO Air Quality Standard

8 hari lalu

IQAir Report Finds Only 7 Countries Meet WHO Air Quality Standard

IQAir, a Swiss-based air quality monitoring organization, reported that only seven countries meet international air quality standards.


China and India's Intense Contest for Influence

8 hari lalu

China and India's Intense Contest for Influence

India has kept a close watch on China's activities and responded strongly where its security was directly affected.


China's Guangzhou and Indonesia's Central Sulawesi Discuss Investment Opportunities

9 hari lalu

China's Guangzhou and Indonesia's Central Sulawesi Discuss Investment Opportunities

Indonesia's Central Sulawesi provincial government and China's Guangzhou municipal government discussed investment opportunities.