China Shooting for “The Green Olympics”?

Just in time for the Summer Olympics, China’s capital is moving forward to improve air quality and help preserve the Earth. This year’s Olympics have been branded as the “Green Olympics” and China has been putting forth new systems, regulations, and buildings to better themselves for the future. One new rule made by the government prohibits fried food to be sold in the farmers’ market by vendors. Cooking fried foods requires the use of coal stoves, which contributes to air pollution. Although this is a great start to reduce the use of coal coming from China, vendors are still cooking with their coal stoves and selling the product but doing so before authorities arrive at 8:00 a.m.

The Beijing government has also been promoting public transportation by improving the systems, introducing incentives, and adding regulations on local vehicles. Two subway lines have been added to Beijing’s original two, and seven more are in construction. Some of these seven will be open in time for the Olympics. Tourists will find it convenient to take the metro directly from the airport to downtown. New bus routes have been added to street transportation, with buses running at more times. Fares have also been significantly lowered, and the government hopes that locals will utilize public transportation rather than driving. In fact, depending on the number of their license plate, local vehicles are allowed on the street every other day. This is to reduce both air pollution and traffic in the city. Beijing also went as far as to inspect every car, giving vehicles that don’t pass the smog test a yellow sticker, preventing it from the streets until September 20. Vehicles coming from other cities will be turned away unless they acquire a “Green Olympic Pass.”

China as a whole is following suit. On June 1, the Chinese State Council prohibited all stores and markets from offering plastic bags for free. This regulation has reduced the use of plastic bags by a whopping 80 percent in department stores and supermarkets and 50 percent in farmers’ markets by the end of June. A department store in Beijing supported this change by offering an exchange program in the month of June, giving out reusable totes to customers that brought in 50 plastic bags. New event specific buildings have been built to support the Games, and one in particular, the Water Cube, is made of lightweight plastic on the exterior, which requires less structural support, and is a better insulator than glass. That saves an estimated 30 percent in energy costs. Other buildings use no-flush toilets, rooftop solar panels, and a rainwater collection system.

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