By definition a meteorological disaster is caused by extreme weather. Floods, draughts and hurricanes are all examples of devastating weather-related events. So with this in mind, should smog be classified as a natural disaster?
That’s a question that Beijing lawmakers are currently pondering. Some are arguing that because smog is caused by a combination of human activity and weather it should be included in the Beijing Municipal Meteorological Disaster Prevention Statute. The city's sandstorms and rainstorms are among the natural disasters that are already included in the local statute.
Tianjin and Hebei already categorize smog as a natural disaster. If Beijing were to follow suit, it would mean that during heavy bouts of smog the city would be able to utilize disaster relief resources, and it would be required to take emergency precautions, including removing certain vehicles from the roads and closing schools.
So far a decision hasn’t been made, and the draft is still under review by the legal committee of the Beijing Municipal People's Congress. Regardless, the issue is a controversial one.
Those who oppose the idea believe that listing smog as a meteorological disaster will not only take the onus off of polluters, but that it will lead to a decrease in public awareness about the root causes of Beijing’s notorious smog.
Smog has been in the news a lot the past month. Not only did officials announce that they expect this winter to be more polluted than usual, but the month of November was particularly smoggy. PM2.5 levels reached an average of 100 micrograms per cubic meter last month – that’s not good.
The World Health Organization asserts that average PM2.5 levels should be 10 micrograms per cubic meter or lower. The Chinese government believes an annual average of 35 micrograms per cubic meter is reasonable.
Either way, Beijing’s PM2.5 levels were out of control last month. And with the issuance of the first red alert of the season today (Dec 16), the month of December doesn’t look promising.
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