Beijing Removes Massive Number Of Old And Polluting Cars From Its Roads

Beijing is committed to removing a total of 1 million ageing cars over the 2013-2017 period as per an action plan published in 2015.

Published: Friday, May 5, 2017, 14:30 [IST]

To tackle congestion and cut smog, Beijing removed 1.8 lakh old and polluting vehicles from its roads, which the Chinese capital has been doing so in the first four months of 2017, Beijing's environmental bureau has said.

Beijing Removes 180,000 Old And Polluting Cars From Roads

Beijing is committed to removing a total of 1 million ageing cars over the 2013-2017 period as per an action plan published in 2015. Beijing must take 300,000 vehicles off the road to meet the target this year.

The Beijing Municipal Environmental Protection Bureau said that Beijing has a total of 5.7 million vehicles, accountable for half of the city's nitrogen oxide emissions, one of the leading causes of smog in the city.

It is said that traffic in the city is responsible for 31 percent of Beijing's total particulate matter. Beijing has promised extraordinary steps this year to adhere its 2013-2017 air pollution targets following an increase in smog in the region in January and February.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends maximum concentrations of 10 micrograms; however, average readings of small breathable particles known as PM2.5 reached 95 micrograms per cubic metre in Beijing in the first two months of 2017.

With an increase of 69.6 percent compared to the previous period, China's capital in looking to bring it down to around 60 micrograms by the end of 2017.