The Delhi government has roped in technology major IBM to study and collect data on the effect of vehicular traffic on the quality of air in a bid to tackle rising air pollution levels in the national capital.
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China has been trying to rein in counterfeiters who have copied everything from Apple iPhones to Louis Vuitton handbags, since it joined the World Trade Organization in 2001, when it was required to adhere to global standards on intellectual property rights.
The loan will target Beijing city and surrounding areas including Hebie and Tianjin.
Satoshi Ishii, an ADB senior urban development specialist, expressed hope that the assistance would help China to reduce emissions and bolster environmental regulations, monitoring and enforcement.
Smog was no fun for anyone, but the electric vehicle market in China are the ones that is benefitted the most.
The loan accompanies expected cofinancing from KfW development bank of 150 million euros in support of the estimated expenditure of the Hebei Clean Air Action Plan 2015-2016 of 4.8 billion USA dollars in Hebei Province.
Beijing issued the first three-day pollution “red alert” on Monday.
It remains unclear how Beijing will respond to future airborne smog peaks, but other cities in the region followed its lead this week by issuing their own red alerts as pollution levels climbed even higher than those seen in the capital.
Beijing’s authorities ordered limits on cars, factories, and construction sites during a red alert for smog from Tuesday through midday Thursday.
Rising wealth means more cars, nudging consumption upward as a new economic pillar embraced by the Communist leadership.
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In parts of Beijing, the air contains more than 256 micrograms per cubic metre of the poisonous particles – with the World Health Organisation warning that anything over 25 micrograms is unsafe. China is taking steps to increase the share of renewables in its electricity generation, but a report by the CBC noted four new coal-fired plants are opening every week to meet the country’s energy demands.
