He travels often for work, often preferring China’s high-speed rail network to flying, which is prone to smog-related delays – 12 outbound flights and 14 inbound flights into the city have been canceled today.
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She wears face masks on most winter days, and she bought an air purifier two years ago, she said.
The city’s experience with hazardous smog has persisted despite Chinese government’s stated priority of cleaning up the legacy of pollution from years of rapid economic growth.
“This is modern life for Beijing people”.
“You have to do whatever you can to protect yourself”, Beijing resident Li Huiwen said while stopping at a market.
In contrast, in India’s New Delhi – the world’s most polluted capital – government schools remained open, although some worldwide schools stopped pupils going outside.
Nonetheless some social media commenters said the measures were not enough.
“Before, they were more or less somewhat reluctant to acknowledge the problem”.
Buildings were barely visible in the Beijing skyline as a blanket of severe smog shrouded the city’s landmarks.
“What folks may not realize is that the EPA has had a strong relationship with China for a very long time”, she said.
The World Health Organization recommends 25 micrograms per cubic metre as the maximum safe level.
Along with limiting cars to driving every other day depending on the last number of their license plate, a raft of other restrictions will seek to reduce the amount of dust and other particulate matter in the city of 22.5 million people.
Over 840 buses were added, and by 10.00 a.m. (local time) on Tuesday, 53 more subway trains were added across 15 lines.
Giving the state government a way out before the measure is even implemented, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said that the government will withdraw the rule if the people of the city face any difficulties.
“I like this kind of haziness”.
Some polluting enterprises, including a stone processing factory and several clothing workshops, continued to operate on Tuesday after a red alert, the highest level, was issued in the morning. The index is closely linked to levels of PM2.5, although it also includes other pollutants. Last week, after Xi Jinping travelled to Paris as the first Chinese president to attend climate talks, Beijing Mayor Wang Anshun said authorities are “determined to win the fight against pollution and are subject to the supervision of the citizens and the press”.
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Previous stretches of severe smog have lasted more than three days but without any red alert. “How could they not issue a red alert then and issue a red alert now?” Schools closed, Beijing traffic slashed after first pollution red-alert https://t.co/sbkskpq3Ji pic.twitter.com/NHMgrbeisV- First Post (firstpost) December 8, 2015 “I live in Beijing for 20 years”, says one Man. “Just as now there has never been”.
