REPORT / INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Straistimes.com, Beijing, Jan 2017: When a thick, grey smog descended over Beijing and nearby cities last month, the overwhelming response it triggered among residents was a sense of deja vu. The worst air pollution to hit the capital in a year prompted the authorities to issue a five-day red alert for Beijing and 22 other cities that imposed school shutdowns and forced half of all private cars off the roads. But for many residents like Ms Kaylene Hong, 28, the smog has become seasonal in recent years. With northern China experiencing its coldest winter since 2012, demand for heating has surged. Most of it continues to be met by coal-fired power plants which, together with heavy industry's use of coal, emit fine dust that accounts for roughly half of the country's PM2.5 (or fine particulate matter) pollution.

 Read More: http://www.straitstimes.com/asia/smoking-out-the-culprits-behind-smog-in-beijing