In the last post we discussed the relationship between Beijing’s air quality and the impact on athletes competing in the 2008 Summer Olympic Games.

China is one of the leading contributors to greenhouse house gas emissions. It ranks number 2, right behind the U.S. According to some reports, China’s air and water ways are described as being some of the worst in the world. Indeed, pollution of the environment is a world-wide issue, and in fact, there are no boundaries that prevent polluted air or water from moving from one region to another. For example, here is a brief video of air pollution in Hong Kong produced by students at Kau Kui College Secondary School. Their analysis points the finger at Mainland China’s air pollutants drifting over to Hong Kong. Here is their report:

One of the problems facing the Summer 2008 Olympics is how to control air pollution. A recent report suggests that sources far from Beijing exert a significant influence on the air in Beijing. Just as the students in Hong Kong showed how the mainland of China influences the air in Hong Kong, researchers have suggested the same is true for Beijing. The question is how will reducing traffic and other sources of emissions impact the overall quality of the air in Beijing during the Olympics.

In a major study of air quality during the 2008 Beijing Olympics, a team of researchers summarize their finding as follows:

“China is taking major steps to improve Beijing’s air quality for the 2008 Olympic Games. However, concentrations of fine particulate matter and ozone in Beijing often exceed healthful levels in the summertime. Based on the US EPA’s Models-3/CMAQ model simulation over the Beijing region, we estimate that about 34% of PM2.5 on average and 35–60% of ozone during high ozone episodes at the Olympic Stadium site can be attributed to sources outside Beijing. Neighboring Hebei and Shandong Provinces and the Tianjin Municipality all exert significant influence on Beijing’s air quality. During sustained wind flow from the south, Hebei Province can contribute 50–70% of Beijing’s PM2.5 concentrations and 20–30% of ozone. Controlling only local sources in Beijing will not be sufficient to attain the air quality goal set for the Beijing Olympics. There is an urgent need for regional air quality management studies and new emission control strategies to ensure that the air quality goals for 2008 are met.”

In an other report, Greening of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, a UN Environment Programme Report suggests that significant strides are being taken in terms of “greening the games.” Included are attempts to use solar power, where possible, free transportation to events using small energy-efficient buses, use of recycled water (in the Olympic Village, rainwater can be captured and used), using environmentally friendly materials (use of wooden and recycled plastic composites for decorating, flooring), and landscaping.