China desperate to control pollution

Beijing: China is under a strict deadline to clean up its air with the opening of the Beijing Olympics now just over a month away.

Clean air is a serious concern for both athletes and spectators visiting from around the world.

For seven straight days CNN shot a video of the Beijing skyline. Most days, the city's tallest buildings were shrouded in the usual sticky smog. When asked why it's still so hazy less than 50 days ahead of the Olympics, a city official said, "Perceptions are often different from scientific monitoring statistics."

But some athletes have dropped out of the games due to health concerns and many wonder if the city will meet the air standards it promised.

"What my analysis has indicated is that air quality from 1998 through the present hasn't improved at all," Steven Andrews, environmental consultant, said.

Environmental consultant Steven Andrews criticises Beijing's method of measuring pollution, and claims the city removed two monitoring stations from the most polluted areas. Claims, city officials fiercely deny as they step up efforts to clear the air.

This week, the state published a letter on the cover of local newspapers, encouraging residents to use green transport, reminding them that hosting a Green Olympics is a matter of national pride saying, "it is our responsibility and duty."

The government has already shutdown high-polluting factories, built new subway lines, reduced the cost of public transport and construction projects will soon be halted.

Starting July 20, the government plans to take more than a million cars off the streets per day. On one day, only cars with even-number licensed plates will be allowed on the streets.

The next day, cars with only odd-number license plates would be allowed.

The government says will reduce car emissions more than 60 per cent. As for how it will affect Beijing's skies, the world will be the judge.

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