Beijing Olympic Games 2008 – The Environmental Issue
Beijing Olympic Games 2008 are approaching fast but not without
serious environmental and ecological issues. The environmental issue
in Beijing 2008 is indeed considered a looming threat to all green
activists worldwide as the following figures indicate.
Five out of the top ten most polluted cities in the world are located in
China. One third of China's population breathes air that endangers its lungs.
A Quarter of China's population has no access to running water. At the end of
2006, the estimated number of cars in Beijing reached almost three
millions and every day one thousand new cars are added. These numbers will
rise significantly during the Olympic Games in the summer of 2008.
These environmental problems go hand in hand with political unrest below the
surface. According to various sources, in the year 2005 there were more than
fifty thousand domestic demonstrations on the environmental issue. Those
demonstrations took place despite the political risk they entail for their
participants. Consequently, the Chinese leadership and the organizers of the
Beijing Olympic Games 2008 gradually understand that they cannot
ignore ecological problems.
Few steps have been taken. A year before the official opening of the
Beijing Olympic Games, Beijing's City Committee for Transportation
Affairs has issued a decree according to which one million cars will be taken
off the roads. In a wide drill, that lasted 4 days, 50 per cent of the cars
were forbidden to access the road. Police patrols throughout Beijing enforced
the decree. In addition, China is working full speed on constructing a
network of public transportation. The Organizers of the Beijing Olympic Games
are reporting the completion of a system of city buses that will be ready in
the coming summer. In terms of numbers we are talking about 10 thousands
buses that operate continually throughout the day and night.
But the big question that arises is whether these steps are sufficient and
whether it is not too late. One should remember that the topographic
conditions in the Beijing area do not favor an air pollution free
environment. Beijing is surrounded by mountains and bad weather conditions
that prevent the spread of polluting particles.
To sum up, global environmental activists have recently issued some
optimistic predictions according to which the Beijing Olympic Games
will actually raise awareness of environmental problems in China. On the
other hand, taking into account the meteoric growth rate of Chinese economy
(growth rates that are driven by enhanced industrial activity), there are
reasons to be concerned in years ahead.