Jisong Wu, Yongjie Zhang, Olympic Games Promote the Reduction in Emissions of Greenhouse Gases in Beijing, 2008.
2.What two (or more) quotes capture the message of the article?
“ Beijing’s CO2 emissions per capita level are much lower than the world average since bidding for the Olympics. Notwithstand- ing the fact that the emissions reduction in Beijing are not enough to influence on the climate changes of the world or even China, Beijing is setting an example for China to expedite the process of reduction in emissions of greenhouse gases. It also shows that it is unnecessary to worry about the air quality during the Beijing Olympic Games. ”
“In the light of scientific development economics, we can establish multi-objective system, promote green growth and establish a recycle economy pattern to promote the construction of long-term mechanism of energy conservation and emissions reduction, leave behind inheritance by Beijing Olympic Games. ”
3.What is the main point of the article, and how is it supported?
1) Although the amount of CO2 emitted has increased significantly in past several years, Beijing has made significant progress in reducing CO2 emissions through technological innovation, industrial structure adjustment, promoting energy efficiency, utilization of renewable energy, and absorption of CO2 using forest and wetland, since bidding for Olympic Games. The Beijing Olympic is a turning-point, the government will adopt new energy conservation and emissions reduction measurements, make contributions to reduce greenhouse gases emission and slow down the climate change.
2)
The author states that the historical cumulative emissions are not high and per capita CO2 emissions are much lower from the data in 2003 with 3 tables. The coal-burning is the major cause for increasing CO2 emission.
Due to the urge to successfully hold the Olympic game in 2008, the government has followed the guidance function of the scientific development economics on energy conservation and emissions reduction by “Rethink” “Reduce” “Reuse” “Recycle” “Repair”. The CO2 emission has been significantly reduced. This is the table provided by the author to show the decrease trend of CO2 emission.
The government has adjusted the industrial structure, developed energy saving and emissions reduction technologies, reduced emissions in transportation to control the CO2 emission in Beijing. A table is provided to show the reduction trend of CO2 in Beijing particularly.
4.What actors (individuals or organizations) are referred to? (Provide names and short descriptions.)
World Resource Institute: is a non-governmental global research organization, which seeks to create equity and prosperity through sustainable natural resource management.
5.What kind of causation or responsibility is argued or implied in the article?
The Chinese government and people are obligated to reduce the greenhouse gases. With the guidance of scientific development economics, Beijing has changed its way of development: from the single-minded pursuit of GDP growth to a multi-objective control of economy, society, resources, and ecology. The government of Beijing needs to understand that the reducing of greenhouse gases emission requires a deep exploration on global climate changes and on multidisciplinary research from historical obligation, human rights, stage of economy development, international trading condition, economic globalization, international cooperation, and sustainable development perspectives. Developed countries should undertake more international obligation for greenhouse gases emissions reduction.
6.How (if at all) are health disparities or other equity issues addressed in the article or report?
Not particularly mentioned.
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?
The historical cumulative emissions are not high since China only started its rapid development only 30 years ago. Surprisingly, the CO2 emission per capita is much lower compare to other developed countries.
Beijing government has a complete system for CO2 emission and has been successfully operated the system.
The long-term model function mechanism for future Beijing greenhouse gases reduction should be more discussed and researched on.
8.How literature supports/opposes what you knew about 2008 Beijing Olympics?
First and foremost, the article addresses Beijing Olympic game as a “turning-point” for China’s air quality. However, it has been seven years after Beijing Olympic game now and the air quality in Beijing is still not optimistic. A report states that the NO, SO2, CO concentration in an hour are 6.5ppb, 4.5 ppb, 1.3 ppm respectively from January to March in 2009. The statistics show that the air quality in Beijing is better compared to the time before Beijing Olympic, but it is much worse than the air quality during Beijing Olympic time. The PM10, PM2.5 concentration has increased more than 180% and 126% compared to the data measured during Beijing Olympic (北京大气污染现状）(http://www.docin.com/p-427979064.html).
9.How literature could be useful in assessing air quality management during the 2008 Beijing Olympics?
The article provides several potential regulations and directional principles on regulating air quality during Beijing Olympic.
Adjustment of industrial structure. Change the proportion of first, second and third industries from 2.5:32.7:64.8 in 2000 to 1.3:28.7:70 in 2006.
Development of energy saving an demission reduction technologies such as clean coal technology.
Emission reduction in transportation by public transportation optimization, reducing bus cost to reduce private automobile numbers.
Increasing the forest cover in Beijing from 30.5% in 2000 to 35.5% in 2006.
- 1. Full citation and link.
Jisong Wu, Yongjie Zhang, Olympic Games Promote the Reduction in Emissions of Greenhouse Gases in Beijing, 2008.- 3. What is the main point of the article, and how is it supported?
1)Although the amount of CO2 emitted has increased significantly in past several years, Beijing has made significant progress in reducing CO2 emissions through technological innovation, industrial structure adjustment, promoting energy efficiency, utilization of renewable energy, and absorption of CO2 using forest and wetland, since bidding for Olympic Games.
The Beijing Olympic is a turning-point, the government will adopt new energy conservation and emissions reduction measurements, make contributions to reduce greenhouse gases emission and slow down the climate change.
2)
- 5. What kind of causation or responsibility is argued or implied in the article?
- The Chinese government and people are obligated to reduce the greenhouse gases. With the guidance of scientific development economics, Beijing has changed its way of development: from the single-minded pursuit of GDP growth to a multi-objective control of economy, society, resources, and ecology. The government of Beijing needs to understand that the reducing of greenhouse gases emission requires a deep exploration on global climate changes and on multidisciplinary research from historical obligation, human rights, stage of economy development, international trading condition, economic globalization, international cooperation, and sustainable development perspectives. Developed countries should undertake more international obligation for greenhouse gases emissions reduction.
- 6. How (if at all) are health disparities or other equity issues addressed in the article or report?
Not particularly mentioned.- 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?
- The historical cumulative emissions are not high since China only started its rapid development only 30 years ago. Surprisingly, the CO2 emission per capita is much lower compare to other developed countries.
- Beijing government has a complete system for CO2 emission and has been successfully operated the system.
- The long-term model function mechanism for future Beijing greenhouse gases reduction should be more discussed and researched on.
- 8. How literature supports/opposes what you knew about 2008 Beijing Olympics?
First and foremost, the article addresses Beijing Olympic game as a “turning-point” for China’s air quality. However, it has been seven years after Beijing Olympic game now and the air quality in Beijing is still not optimistic. A report states that the NO, SO2, CO concentration in an hour are 6.5ppb, 4.5 ppb, 1.3 ppm respectively from January to March in 2009. The statistics show that the air quality in Beijing is better compared to the time before Beijing Olympic, but it is much worse than the air quality during Beijing Olympic time. The PM10, PM2.5 concentration has increased more than 180% and 126% compared to the data measured during Beijing Olympic (北京大气污染现状）(http://www.docin.com/p-427979064.html).- 9. How literature could be useful in assessing air quality management during the 2008 Beijing Olympics?
The article provides several potential regulations and directional principles on regulating air quality during Beijing Olympic.