Hello dear blog readers website
Yesterday, when I left the house for work, I was simply amazed, the whole street was shrouded in gray fog, not a single light was visible. In the evening, I went towards Tiananmen Square on business. When I passed by the square, it was almost impossible to see anything. It looks like the entire city is on fire. The culprit is the terrible smog that becomes a regular feature in Beijing every winter. The Chinese capital is turning into Silent Hill….
What is PM2.5?
As far as I know, there is a safety standard established by WHO for the content of harmful substances in the air (PM2.5 - fine suspended particles in the air). So, in Beijing, this norm is exceeded by 40 (!) Times. These particles are very harmful to the human body and can cause serious illnesses, especially of the lungs. It comes to the point that the elderly and children are advised not to leave the house if possible. It is said that the damage caused by such smog to human health can be compared to that which a heavy smoker receives by smoking a pack of cigarettes a day. Some people note that in Beijing there is a constant cough with black sputum, there is even the concept of "Beijing cough".
The PM2.5 level is an important indicator for determining the threat of smog. There are 3 warning levels in China: yellow, orange and red. The last one is the most serious.
Causes of smog in Beijing
More than 20 million people live in Beijing, this huge number exceeds the population of many countries. Naturally, there are a very large number of cars on the streets, all kinds of eateries that cook on an open fire. The most main cause of smog- coal stations and oil giants of China, which produce low-quality fuel.
Beijingers are very concerned about the state of air quality. Under pressure from the public, the authorities were forced to take some measures: more than a hundred enterprises were closed, production standards are being tightened, coal-fired boilers are being converted to gas boilers, cooking on the street is prohibited (although this is far from being always done), restrictions on the use of pyrotechnics have been introduced, a promise has been made to deal with the problem of smog in 5-10 years.

Why aren't you wearing a mask today?
How does the morning begin for many people living in Beijing? From checking the level of PM2.5 in the air. Many phones and computers have special applications for this purpose. At work, people talk about this topic all the time. People around on the streets wear protective masks, and this has long become commonplace. The question “Why are you not wearing a mask today” has been popular for a couple of years now.
It comes to the point that one enterprising businessman began to release air in cans, the starting price was about 5 yuan, and now they offer goods on Taobao even for 50 yuan!
The reaction of foreigners
Due to poor environmental conditions, we have decided to leave Beijing for the foreseeable future. As the statistics show, not only we. In Beijing, the quality of life suffers greatly. A huge overcrowded city, constant hustle and bustle, poor quality products, ubiquitous noise and, of course,. I seriously believe that employees should be paid extra for harmfulness. And this compensation should be high.
Starting in 2013, foreign specialists began to leave Beijing, primarily those who have children. Wealthy Chinese are also not far behind, either leaving for greener cities in China or emigrating to other countries.
Chinese leaders are very worried because they are leaving the country not only simple people but also high-level specialists.
The authorities promise that the problem will be solved, maybe in a few years. However, a few years in Silent Hill can have serious health consequences later on. Therefore, many prefer to run wherever their eyes look.

Beijing has the reputation of having some of the world’s worst air quality thanks to its headline-making “beyond index” and “red alert” pollution events. However, the data tell a more complex and optimistic story.

In the last decade, authorities have brought in policies to mitigate the city's unhealthy air quality. As a result, the average annual PM2.5 concentration in 2018 was half that of 2009, (101.8µg/m³ in 2009 versus 50.9µg/m³ in 2018), while the number of healthy air quality hours annually nearly quadrupled (5.5 percent of hours in 2009, to 21 percent of hours in 2018). However, while Beijing’s air quality is improving by the year, more needs to be done for the city to attain annual PM2.5 levels that meet the World Health Organization’s guideline of 10µg/m³.

Beijing annual distribution of hourly PM2.5 concentrations, shown as US Air Quality Index categories

Where does Beijing's air pollution come from?

The largest sources of locally-generated PM2.5 in the capital are vehicles emissions, followed by road and construction dust . Beijing has 5.64 million private cars, and has cut the number of license plates issued each year down to 100,000, as of the end of 2017. In 2017, Beijing shut down the last of its four coal-fired power plants in its transition to natural gas. However, Beijing suffers from its valley topography; much of its pollution comes from outside the city and builds up until strong winds carry it away.

As the capital of the world’s most populous country, Beijing’s air quality has drawn global attention and is seen as a reflection of the national environmental condition. For many years, public air quality records lacked transparency. In 2008, the US Embassy began tweeting real-time measurements recorded by the PM2.5 Beta Attenuation Monitor. The readings revealed a stark reality, previously unknown to the world and underestimated by residents. While Twitter is blocked in China, the data spread via Chinese sites and third-party apps, raising public awareness. Inadvertently, this placed mounting pressure on Chinese officials to both acknowledge the severity of the problem and begin taking measures to tackle it.

How can Beijing's air pollution be reduced?

In September 2013, the Chinese State Council issued an Action Plan for the Prevention and Control of Air Pollution, which included implementing a comprehensive, nationwide air pollution monitoring system. Today, Beijing city has a monitoring network of 34 government stations, which report real-time measurements, in line with US Embassy data.

While efforts have proven successful in meeting or exceeding goals set by the Chinese government, Beijing still averages air quality more than four times the WHO recommendation. Among global cities with air quality monitoring stations, Beijing ranked 122nd for the , and 72nd among Chinese cities, in 2018

Is Beijing air quality improving?

In the last 15 years, China has been steadily improving their air quality. China reduced PM2.5 by 47% between 2005 and 2015. Beijing recorded their lowest month in air pollution in August 2019, with a low of 23 micrograms per cubic meter. The main reasons for the lower air pollution in China are the shift from coal to natural gas, the high amount of electric vehicles in China, and the effort from the Chinese government to halt deforestation in the country.

How is Beijing polluted?

Beijing air pollution is mainly caused by the burning of coal to produce electricity and vehicle emissions. Other factors that influence the air quality in Beijing include the manufacturing industry, the population growth, and several natural reasons such as the seasonal weather and the city’s topography.

Should I wear a mask in Beijing?

Wearing a face mask when air pollution is high is one of the best choices you can make. Research has proven wearing a decent mask can reduce your exposure to the air pollution in Beijing by over 90%. When the aqi in China is high, wearing a pollution mask protects your heart and lungs against harmful air pollution. Surgical masks are not as effective in blocking off the air pollution, but they are better than not wearing any mask at all.

How many people die from air pollution in Beijing?

Putting a number on the amount of people that die from the air pollution in Beijing is hard. But multiple studies have shown that, on average, people die 5.5 years sooner than they otherwise might because of the quality of the air in Beijing. In China as a whole, there is an estimate of 1.1 million people dying every year from air pollution...

How does air pollution affect people in Beijing

When the air quality in Beijing is at its worst, people are urged by the government to avoid outdoor activities. Most common health issues are a sore throat and cough. Over the past decade, lung cancer rates have risen over 60%. Other consequences of the air pollution in Beijing include yellow skies, higher mortality rates, and cancelled flights due to low visibility levels.

What is the current air quality in Beijing?

The air quality in Beijing goes through periods of high pollution. To get the most accurate information on the current air quality in Beijing, it’s important to use real-time data. Our statistics come from the IQAIR testing stations that use real-time data to calculate the current air quality in Beijing.

Image copyright getty Image caption

Either official statistics don't exist, or Chinese government officials don't want to share them. However, commercial companies, schools, embassies, recruiting consultants, without exception, all confirm the same thing: while China is becoming an increasingly important base for international firms, Beijing is rapidly losing its appeal to their foreign employees, the correspondent says.

Harrow International School staff Hannah Sanders and her husband Ben have lived in Beijing for five years. In July they decided to return to the United Kingdom and packed their bags.

“At first we planned to stay here for six years. However, air pollution outweighed,” says the 34-year-old mother of two children, one of whom is a newborn baby. “I believe that it is not safe for our two-year-old child to play outdoors. .

The US Chamber of Commerce released the results of its annual China Business Climate survey in March. Among others, the survey asked the following question: "Did your organization have difficulty recruiting and retaining senior executives to work in China due to air quality?" Responses received from 365 member companies of the Chamber revealed a clear trend: 48% of respondents answered "Yes" in 2014, compared to 34% in 2013 and 19% in 2008.

While published data is scarce, companies across a variety of sectors and businesses report that managers at all levels are trying to escape air pollution. They ask for a transfer to another job. In July last year, an increasing number of expat families took a hand in Beijing. It follows from the comments on the forums that the exodus began in June.

As a result, recruiters say it is becoming increasingly difficult for foreign businesses to lure the most talented workers to the Middle Kingdom, as many simply refuse to go to Beijing, citing the city's deteriorating air quality as the main reason for their refusal.

Image copyright getty Image caption Air pollution in China's capital reaches alarming levels

"Beijing loses a couple of spots every year in the ranking of cities where professionals would like to move to work," says Angie Egan, managing director of MRCI, a recruiting firm that specializes in hiring professionals in Asia.

Since 2012, Beijing has lost three points in this ranking. Of the more than 5,000 respondents, 56% cited health problems as a reason for them to think about changing jobs. This is the data of a study conducted recently by a consulting company. However, a study by HSBC bank still names China as the number one country for expats who are attracted there by high salaries.

Several principals from international schools - off the record - told BBC Capital that enrollment was down by five percent last year. In addition, the embassies of two major countries also reported that they face difficulties in filling the staff list.

Parents are concerned about the long-term health consequences for their children as a result of exposure to air containing hazardous levels of harmful contaminants. The sharp increase in the degree of pollution, noted in early spring, is unlikely to add peace to them. The indicator of the content of harmful suspended particles that can penetrate into the lungs and linger there increased from the level of PM 2.5 to more than 500 units in a few days in March. It exceeded the values ​​recommended by the World Health Organization by more than 20 times. This is eerily reminiscent of the "eco-apocalypse" of last year, when a cloud of brownish-gray dust dominated northern China for several weeks.

Last year, WHO released the results of a study that tracked the causes of loss of life worldwide. Air pollution in China was found to be responsible for 1.2 million premature deaths in 2010. This amounted to 40% of the total worldwide. Following the publication of the report, several professors from Chinese universities disputed the study's methodology and said the numbers could be even higher.

The Chinese government, however, is not particularly active. In response to a wave of indignation on Internet forums and in in social networks New Chinese Premier Li Keqiang has repeatedly vowed to "declare war on air pollution", and a monitoring system has been launched in all major cities in China environment. But despite the fact that thousands of enterprises have been forced to close and millions of dollars have been invested in renovating a decrepit industry, the skies over the country's main cities are still covered with a gray haze, and most of the set targets for reducing harmful emissions into the atmosphere have not been achieved.

Image copyright getty Image caption This "eco-apocalypse" happens from time to time in some parts of China.

Rising levels of air pollution are a growing concern for expat families who have been lured to Beijing by hefty compensation packages and good job opportunities. However, it was only in the last year and a half that companies seriously faced the problem of the outflow of employees, when the families of foreigners finally realized that quick decision air purification problems are not to be expected.

"People are surprised that pollution persists and are beginning to realize that this is not an immediate problem," said Adam Dunnett, Secretary General of the European Chamber of Commerce in China.

"Last year, when I returned to Beijing after a summer vacation, I thought, 'What am I doing here?'" recalls Alison Thompson, who arrived in the Chinese capital in 2003. A mother of two and former teacher kindergarten in Beijing has now moved to Tokyo, Japan, where her husband, a consultant for an international oil and gas company, asked him to be transferred. If not for the air quality, he would have stayed in Beijing.

"Today it's hard to find a manager to work in Beijing. It's become a real problem," says Angie Egan, adding that senior managers tend to prefer Hong Kong and Singapore when it comes to working in Asia.

Nevertheless, Beijing remains the political and economic center of the world's second largest economy, and many foreign companies have invested millions of dollars in developing their operations in China and in Asia as a whole.

Some of these companies have taken drastic measures. For example, many of them offer higher compensation or flexible packages, such as weekly paid airfares, which allow their managers to see families living elsewhere in Asia on a regular basis.

Many install the most advanced air filtration systems in their offices and offer to pay for the installation of filters in their employees' apartments. Employees are issued mandatory protective masks, and information campaigns are conducted about the dangers of polluted air.

"Companies are doing everything they can. However, the reality is that people continue to leave ... It is becoming increasingly difficult to attract people here," Adam Dunnett states with concern.

Air quality in Beijing is better than anywhere else major cities in northern China.

The report of the Ministry of Environmental Protection compared the air quality readings of the first three months of the year in 28 cities in northern China (Beijing and Tianjin, as well as cities in the provinces of Hebei, Shandong, Shanxi and Henan), the result of the study showed that air quality in Beijing is - the best.

Which may surprise you a little, because if you remember, Beijing looked like this in January:

And like this in February:

The skies did indeed clear up in March when the CCP sessions began and Beijing's air quality improved, but then the sky became hazy again.

Unsurprisingly, Hebei Province's air was rated the worst, with its capital, Shijiazhuang, at the bottom of the list. The average PM2.5 for all 28 cities over a three-month period was 103 micrograms per cubic meter more than four times the WHO safety standard. At readings above 100, China recommends "children and adults, and people with respiratory conditions such as asthma, limit prolonged outdoor exposure."

To be fair to the capital, Beijing is really trying to clean up the air, for example, a special “smog squad” was created, for the first time arresting a person for air pollution (an employee of a local heating company). Beijing also shut down the city's last major coal-fired power plant. This year, the capital has promised to lower the average PM2.5 level to 60, which will markedly improve Beijing's air quality.

Meanwhile, China's environmental ministry has accused thousands of polluters of filing false emissions data and resisting inspections, with local authorities turning a blind eye. In response, the ministry announced that more than 5,000 inspectors would be sent to investigate sources of air pollution in northern China, in what it calls China's "largest ever smog inspection" that will last for a year.

Things are very bad in China! This morning, my Chinese news feed was again filled with messages about how Chinese President Xi Jinping calls on humanity to change their minds and finally take care of the environment.

Speaking at the UN World Climate Change Conference in the French capital, he said that by 2030, China intends to fulfill its plans to stop growth and reduce the intensity of carbon dioxide emissions!

Wow, emissions will drop by 2030! - the residents of Beijing were delighted and looked out the window, where the December sun was graciously shining on them.

Yesterday, Beijing registered its highest level of smog this year. The air pollution index has exceeded 500 - the maximum indicator for most accepted measuring instruments. By the time this post was written, it still remains at the “beyond index” level (that is, above the allowable measurement limits).

The concentration of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) in the air yesterday reached 945 micrograms/cu. m of air. This is despite the fact that the World Health Organization considers the maximum acceptable content there are 25 such particles.

945 vs 25!

Greenpeace publishes photos of Beijing with a difference of one day (the day before yesterday and yesterday):

The whole second part of my feed was filled with photos of Beijing, people simply do not see their 16-story building, standing in front of its entrance, for example:

The authorities sounded the alarm and ordered 2,100 city enterprises, including construction and manufacturing, to stop work immediately. At the same time, there were some insolent people who continued to produce, for example, cement!

But nothing, they have already sent death squads, consisting of 2 officials of the environmental protection department, who will issue minor fines to the insolent people, after which the factories can safely continue their work.

The main causes of smog are:
- industry - 32%
- transport - 20%
- power generation and heating - 48%, that is, the consequences of using coal.

Meanwhile, the Internet is already full of jokes on the topic.

Sights of Beijing (from left to right, top to bottom):
1. Forbidden Palace
2. Tiananmen Square
3. Temple of Heaven
4. Gulou Tower
5. Yonghegun Lama Temple
6. Beihai Park
7. Wangfujing shopping street
8. Yiheyuan Park (Summer Palace)
9. Sanlitun Entertainment Street

Or: Beijing has come up with a way to fight global warming! You just need to shield yourself from the sun with a dense layer of smoke!

In order to visually demonstrate the horrors of pollution, the performance artist "Brother Nut" walked around Beijing with an industrial vacuum cleaner for 100 days, and from the collected he turned out to be a real brick!

The topic of smog in Beijing, of course, terribly infuriates everyone. But no one can talk about it either. Instead of "hello" they say "Fuck, well, I could!"

By the way, where did smog come from and what to do with it, I already wrote.