Beijing to introduce tougher auto emission standards ahead of Olympic Games

Beijing to introduce tougher auto emission standards ahead of Olympic Games

BEIJING, Nov. 3 (Xinhua) -- Beijing will introduce tougher auto emission standards at the beginning of next year, as air pollution has become a major concern for the city in the preparation for the 2008 Olympic Games.

It is expected the new standards will reduce the amount of sulphur dioxide pumped out onto the streets of the nation's capital by automobile exhausts by 1,840 tons every year, said Feng Yuqiao, an official with the Beijing environment protection bureau.

Automobile distributors in Beijing are preparing for the new China IV standards that are equivalent to the Euro IV standards in the European Union, the official added.

Feng also said: "All the gas stations in Beijing will provide gasoline and diesel that meet the requirements of the new standards starting from Jan. 1."

The current China III standards, equivalent to the Euro III standards, have reduced sulphur dioxide emissions from automobile exhausts by 2,480 tons annually since it was enforced at the end of 2005, according to the official.

Officials believe it's not enough. "Air pollution caused by automobile exhaust is still serious," Feng said.

To reduce pollutants in emission, some buses in Beijing have already used fuel that meets the China IV standards.

There are 3.1 million motor vehicles in Beijing at present.

Despite a rapid increase in the number of motor vehicles in recent years, Beijing has managed to reduce nitrogen dioxide and carbon monoxide, two main pollutants in exhaust emission, in the air.

Nitrogen dioxide in every cubic meter of air reduced by 10.8 percent between 1998 and 2006, or from 74 gammas to 66 gammas per cubic meter, and carbon monoxide decreased by 33 percent from 3.3 milligram to 2.2 milligrams per cubic meter.

About 40 percent to 50 percent of the major pollutants in Beijing's air -- nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide and inhalant particulate matter -- come from vehicle exhaust emissions, according to Zhu Tong, one of the expert panel for Olympics air quality protection and also a professor of the environment science and engineering school at Beijing University.

Beijing's air quality will be greatly improved after air pollution control measures take effect and construction works are finished ahead of next year's Olympic Games, Zhu said.