The latest batch of diplomatic cables unearthed by
WikiLeaks reveals China’s failure to measure certain pollution levels and the government’s silence about the issue.
Several newly revealed cables, dating from 2006, show that certain types of air pollution aren’t measured at all in China and that the Chinese government has ignored alarming findings from academics and scientists.
“Air pollution in China has grown so bad that Chinese officials are acknowledging the challenge it presents, and various foreign scholars are offering alarming statistics about the financial and health costs it brings. … However, fine particle (PM2.5) pollution — which is deemed to be of highest concern for public health — is not measured,” a cable dated Aug. 16, 2006, claims.
Another cable reveals that the levels of ozone (O3) in the Chinese province of Guangdong were at one point extremely high. And another cable comments on the findings of scientists in that same province who were feeling pressured not to come forward with the issue.
“Despite potential retaliation, scholars and scientists appear willing to continue to speak their minds and put some public pressure on the authorities. While progress towards pollutant emission reduction is possible, rapid change is not likely,” the same cable concludes.
China has been praised in recent years for its efforts to reduce air pollution. The International Olympic Committee said the country had done “everything humanly possible” to clear Beijing’s air ahead of the 2008 Olympic Games. And the Chinese government has recently promised to include ozone measurements in its pollution index.
However, some recent reports on China’s pollution measurement standards show that the country still has work to do before it solves its pollution problem.
[via The Guardian]
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