David Stanway and Muyu Chu

ZHANGJIAKOU (China) – China uses the Winter Olympic Games as a vehicle to promote environmental sustainability. However, Beijing, a smog-prone city, is still preparing to face the worst, with the opening ceremony looming.

Beijing’s air quality has improved since China was selected to host the Games. However, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment stated that winter smog risk remained severe.

Liu Youbin, a spokesperson for the Ministry, told reporters that there were contingency plans in place.

He said, “When it comes to it, Beijing and Hebei shall be guided to take reasonable measures for protecting the environment in compliance with the law.”

He said that rumours that heavy polluting industries would close in the region starting January 1 were not true.

China was awarded the bid in 2015. Critics warned, however, that dangerous smog could overshadow the Winter Olympics in China. Xi Jinping the Chinese President pledged that he would run a “greener” Games. Hebei also promised to “transform” and “upgrade” China’s industrial economy.

China has planted thousands upon thousands of ha in Beijing, Hebei, and other areas, as well as built vast wind and solar farms. It also relocated many businesses.

Deng Zhongping, 26, an amateur skier, said that he already feels the difference in Zhangjiakou, which is 200km (125 miles) north of Beijing.

“When I came to Beijing a few years back I would suffer with rhinitis because of pollution, but the air quality in Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei has improved a lot,” he said.

I think Zhangjiakou’s air quality is better than other foreign resorts.

In 2016, average concentrations of PM2.5 in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region stood at 71 micrograms per cubic metre and soared to more than 500 micrograms over winter. This compares with an average of 40 micrograms per cubic metre from January through September 2016.

Beijing’s reading of 33 micrograms was recorded in the third quarter. This is comparable to China’s 35-microgram norm, but higher than the World Health Organization recommendation level (5 micrograms) and will probably rise even more over the winter.

According to the Washington-based International Fund for China’s Environment, “China will win many gold medals in the Winter Olympics but the smog could cause serious problems for the Games.”

GRAINING THE GAMES

Officials announced this week, during a government organized tour, that renewable energy would power all 26 Olympic venues located in Beijing and Hebei. The government failed to meet its target for hydrogen production, so more than 700 vehicles that run on hydrogen will still be available.

A tree-planting program was implemented during preparations, which increased Zhangjiakou’s forest coverage to 70%-80%. It is up from 56%.

China also stated that it will make the Games carbon neutral for the first-time. Greenpeace an environmental group stated however that without further data, it would be difficult to assess whether this goal has been met.

A concern when creating artificial snow or even ice is water scarcity.

Organisers stated that the Games will not place additional pressure on water supply. Instead, they will rely on cisterns to collect mountain runoff and rainwater during the summer. This is in keeping with China’s larger efforts to build a circular economy where resources can be fully utilized and recycled.

Wang Jingxian is a member the 2022 Games Planning Committee. He stated, “We all are self-sufficient and environmentally circular.”