Beijing Urges Citizens on Green Transport
June 23, 2008
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In the run up to this summer’s Olympic Games, the city government of Beijing is appealing to its citizens to use green transport as part of their ‘civic’ duty.
An open letter from the government that appeared on the cover of a local daily newspaper said, “Citizens and friends, to be able to contribute, serve and be devoted to the Olympics is our glory and pride. It is also our responsibility and duty.”
This urging of their citizens is the latest in a series of moves to help reduce the city’s carbon footprint and fight air pollution and smog in the city, a major concern of Olympics officials.
As of July 20th, the government will be banning the use of cars on alternate days depending on the last number of their license plate. The government is hoping to reduce the cars on the road by 45%, from a total of over 3 million, and to cut overall carbon emissions by 63%. However, these measures may be too little too late in a city that is already adding another 1000 cars to the roads every single day.
Last week, citizens were also hit with an 18% hike in the price of gas as the national government removed some of their existing gasoline subsidies. This is expected to reduce the use of cars as the price of their operation rises.
Earlier this year the city announced several pollution reducing measures, albeit temporary ones, including closures of local manufacturing plants and a ban on all major construction projects in the months leading up to the games.
These changes have more to do with China wanting to ensure the success of the Beijing Olympics than with reducing their carbon footprint and fighting global warming. Expect to see most of these measures removed at the end of the games.
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