3. What is the main point of the article, and how is it supported? The main point of the article is introducing the first legally binding regulations for reducing PM2.5 levels in Beijing.
The new law, which was passed by a huge margin of 659-23 at the annual session of the municipal legislative body last week, will come into effect in March.
About one-third of the total clauses in this regulation feature tougher punishment for polluters, which the vice director of the municipal congress’ standing committee said were aimed at make polluting behaviors too expensive for companies to profit from.
4. What actors (individuals or organizations) are referred to? (Provide names and short descriptions.)
Fang Li: deputy head of Beijing’s environmental authority.
Wang Anshun: Beijing mayor.
Ma Jun: the director of the Institute of Public Environmental Affairs.
Li Shuo: Greenpeace Asia’s Climate and Energy campaigner.
方力：北京市环保环保局副局长。
王安顺：北京市市长。
马军：公众环境研究中心主任。
李硕：绿色和平气候与能源项目主任。
5. What kind of causation or responsibility is argued or implied in the article?
Causation: Beijing’s annual average PM2.5 level currently stands at 89.5 micrograms per cubic meter, far exceeding the 35-micrograms national standard. Officials have previously pledged to reduce this figure by 25% over the next five years. Therefore, this regulation has been approved.
Responsibility: The regulation would be Beijing’s first effort to set target to curb the city’s total pollutant emissions.
6. How (if at all) are health disparities or other equity issues addressed in the article or report? The new legally binding regulations for reducing PM2.5 levels is conducted in Beijing. However, the same air pollution issues are also in other large cities. For example, like the capital of the Heibei province: Shijiazhuang. So this is the inequity in implementing the law. 新《北京市大气污染防治条例》，首次以立法的形式将降低PM2.5浓度列为污染防治目标只是在北京实行。但是其他的大城市也存在同样的化境污染问题，像河北省省会石家庄。所以这是这个条例里的不完善。
7. What three points, details or references from the article did you follow up on to advance your understanding of the issued and actors described in the article?
This is a large effort in improving the air quality in Beijing. People have noticed that this air pollution may bring public health issues, so this regulation will be a good way of controlling the current situation.
The regulation will help China achieve the aim of reducing 25% of PM2.5 level in next five years.
More legislative process should be made to corporate with this regulation in order to better improving the air quality in Beijing.
Citation: Luna Lin, Beijing passes law to curb air pollution, Chinadialogue, accessed Jan. 28, 2014.
林娜，北京通过立法防治大气污染，https://www.chinadialogue.net/blog/6686-Beijing-passes-law-to-curb-air-pollution/ch 2014-01-28
2. What two (or more) quotes capture the message of the article?
3. What is the main point of the article, and how is it supported?
The main point of the article is introducing the first legally binding regulations for reducing PM2.5 levels in Beijing.
- The new law, which was passed by a huge margin of 659-23 at the annual session of the municipal legislative body last week, will come into effect in March.
- About one-third of the total clauses in this regulation feature tougher punishment for polluters, which the vice director of the municipal congress’ standing committee said were aimed at make polluting behaviors too expensive for companies to profit from.
本文重点讲述北京首次以立法形式将降低PM2.5浓度列为污染防治目标。4. What actors (individuals or organizations) are referred to? (Provide names and short descriptions.)
5. What kind of causation or responsibility is argued or implied in the article?
6. How (if at all) are health disparities or other equity issues addressed in the article or report?
The new legally binding regulations for reducing PM2.5 levels is conducted in Beijing. However, the same air pollution issues are also in other large cities. For example, like the capital of the Heibei province: Shijiazhuang. So this is the inequity in implementing the law.
新《北京市大气污染防治条例》，首次以立法的形式将降低PM2.5浓度列为污染防治目标只是在北京实行。但是其他的大城市也存在同样的化境污染问题，像河北省省会石家庄。所以这是这个条例里的不完善。
7. What three points, details or references from the article did you follow up on to advance your understanding of the issued and actors described in the article?