Dan Wu, Shiqiu Zhang, Jianhua Xu, Tong Zhu, The CO2 Reduction Effects and Climate Benefit of Beijing 2008 Summer Olympics Green Practice, 2011.
2.What two (or more) quotes capture the message of the article?
“Although there being on-going discussions, it is still not clear for China that how to integrate GHGs abatement into air pollution control policy framework. Strong political will is needed to simultaneously address environmental problems and climate change issues under the context of sustainable development framework in a Chinese setting. Mega-events (like the Olympic Games) are quite often impetuses for strengthening the political will to address local environmental problems since greening the mega-events can always help the hosts gain more supports in and abroad. Also, mega-events have normally been seen as a catalyst for a wide range of urban improvement and development for the host cities (S. Essex and B. Chalkley, 1998).”
“ After implementing 14 stages of air pollution control measures, the coal-firing pollution in Beijing has been alleviated to some extent. According to <Beijing Environmental Status Bulletin>(1998-2008) [14], SO2 annually concentration decreased from 120 μg/m3 to 36 μg/m3 from 1998 to 2008; NO2 annually concentration showed a decreasing trend while fluctuating up and down between 74 μg/m3 to 49μg/m3 from 1998 to 2008; PM10 annually concentration did not show a significantly decrease trend, but still fall to 122μg/m3 in 2008; CO annually concentration decreased from 3.3 mg/m3 to 1.4 mg/m3 from 1998 to 2008.”
3.What is the main point of the article, and how is it supported?
1) Although there being on-going discussions, it is still not clear for China that how to integrate greenhouse gas abatement into air pollution control policy framework now (2013). In the article, CO2 reduction is estimated by major greening Olympic measures for 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, aiming to provide evidence on curbing CO2 emissions as a co-benefit for improving local air quality by mega-events. CO2 emission reduction by three types of measures has been estimated including: energy related measures, transport management, and temporary air pollution control measures. As estimated, from the perspective of long-term effect, the measure of clean energy substitution and improving energy efficiency and application of advance energy saving technologies would be cost-effectiveness measures for China addressing both air pollution control and green-house gases abatement.
2)
The author states that Beijing has been evolving in air pollution problems since 1970s and 80s. Moreover, since 1998, a series of aggressive environmental measures in steps and states (14 stages) aiming at improving air quality in Beijing before 2008. Beijing government controlled vehicle pollution by promoting the scrapping of old vehicles, inspections for in-use vehicles, restricting urban vehicle pollution travel, clean fuel replacement on taxies and buses, tightening emission standards for new-vehicles.
The author also provides evidence and data to show that SO2 annually concentration decreased from 120 μg/m3 to 36 μg/m3 from 1998 to 2008, NO2 annually concentration showed a decreasing trend while fluctuating up and down between 74 μg/m3 to 49μg/m3 from 1998 to 2008; PM10 annually concentration did not show a significantly decrease trend, but still fall to 122μg/m3 in 2008; CO annually concentration decreased from 3.3 mg/m3 to 1.4 mg/m3 from 1998 to 2008.
Figure 1: Trend of SO2, NO2, PM10 and CO concentration from 1998 to 2008
Using equations and models mentioned in the article:
to calculate CO2 emission in Olympic Venues and results into a total of 5281tons of CO2 reduction in 2008 by using the clean energy. Table 1: CO2 emission reduction per year by using clean energy in Olympic Venues
The CO2 reduction in non-Olympic places is estimated using the same equation and comes to 480,000 tons in year 2008.
Table 2. CO2 emission reduction per year by using clean energy in non-Olympic places
4.What actors (individuals or organizations) are referred to? (Provide names and short descriptions.)
Energy Foundation: A partnership of major foundations interested in sustainable energy.
Beijing Science and Technology Commission: is a constituent part of Beijing Municipal Government, mainly responsible for formulating local Sci&tech development programs, building the capital-wide innovation architecture by means of policies and budgetary plans, improving Beijing's economic competitiveness and promoting a coordinated economic and social development.
5.What kind of causation or responsibility is argued or implied in the article?
It has been argues that whether China should put the GHGs mitigation as the first priority or link it with the existing local and regional air pollution control strategy and sustainable development frameworks. The latter one would provide more incentive and cheaper or even a win-win solution for the developing and undeveloped economies. Air quality controlling and economy development are never contradicted to each other. China as one of the largest countries in the world should take the responsibilities.
6.How (if at all) are health disparities or other equity issues addressed in the article or report?
Not particularly addressed.
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?
From the CO2 reduction estimation, CO2 can be significantly reduced by existing energy structure adjusting and air pollution control measures. As the significant co-benefit of CO2 abatement from air pollution control measure exist, China government should integrate CO2 reduction to local air quality improvement policy framework, so as to find out cost-effective path for China.
From the study, Beijing Olympic Games have effect on the city in an intensive way. Events like Olympics would have a series of profound effect on the city including: urban planning, transportation systems, infrastructure construction, etc.
The local government all over the world should take events like Olympic as a trigger for more sustainable urban development. Otherwise, the expenditure for holding such worldwide events would be wasted.
8.How literature supports/opposes what you knew about 2008 Beijing Olympics?
Although the CO2 emission has been reduced by the greening measures for Beijing Olympic Games, there are some activities bringing incremental CO2 emission comparing to the Business As Usual scenario (BAU). The key activities caused CO2 emission includes international/domestic flights, incremental transport services, and Olympic venues operating during the games and constructing Olympics games venues. CO2 emission by international and domestic flights for 2008 Games can be estimated by multiplying the CO2 emission of a round trip per capita by the number of traveling people. By calculating using value for CO2 emission of a round trip per capita of Carbon Neutral Company, about 570 thousand tons CO2 is emitted by the international and domestic flights, and about 1.7~1.8 million tons is estimated while using referencing value of WWF.
9.How literature could be useful in assessing air quality management during the 2008 Beijing Olympics?
Specific to the Olympic Games, Beijing has developed Beijing Olympic Action Plan, and implemented Beijing Air Quality Guarantee Program for the 29th Olympic Games. The measures as described in these two documents are the measures that are taken into account in our estimation to address the both global and local effects, as detailed below.
Using clean energy in 283 following Olympic venues including Olympic Tennis Center (geothermal), Beijing University of Technology Gymnasium (geothermal), Peking University Gymnasium (solar), National Stadium (solar), Laoshan Velodrome (solar), Wukesong Gymnasium (solar), Olympic Village (solar), and Shunyi Water Park (heat pump). In non-Olympic venues, geothermal energy is used for residential heating, clean fuel is used for powering vehicles, and wind energy is used for electricity generation.
To assure the air quality in Beijing to meet promises made during the candidature process, measures directly for abating air pollutants are taken. These include switching to high-quality low-sulfur coal in power plants, shutting down heavy polluting industrial facilities temporarily and permanently, and cutting down industrial productions, which involve 27 cement factories, 142 concrete batching plant, 18 plants of metallurgical industry and building materials in Beijing, as well as some plants in the surrounding provinces. Restrictions on cars are set during the Olympics.
- 1. Full citation and link.
Dan Wu, Shiqiu Zhang, Jianhua Xu, Tong Zhu, The CO2 Reduction Effects and Climate Benefit of Beijing 2008 Summer Olympics Green Practice, 2011.- 3. What is the main point of the article, and how is it supported?
1)Although there being on-going discussions, it is still not clear for China that how to integrate greenhouse gas abatement into air pollution control policy framework now (2013). In the article, CO2 reduction is estimated by major greening Olympic measures for 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, aiming to provide evidence on curbing CO2 emissions as a co-benefit for improving local air quality by mega-events. CO2 emission reduction by three types of measures has been estimated including: energy related measures, transport management, and temporary air pollution control measures. As estimated, from the perspective of long-term effect, the measure of clean energy substitution and improving energy efficiency and application of advance energy saving technologies would be cost-effectiveness measures for China addressing both air pollution control and green-house gases abatement.
2)
Figure 1: Trend of SO2, NO2, PM10 and CO concentration from 1998 to 2008
to calculate CO2 emission in Olympic Venues and results into a total of 5281tons of CO2 reduction in 2008 by using the clean energy.
Table 1: CO2 emission reduction per year by using clean energy in Olympic Venues
- The CO2 reduction in non-Olympic places is estimated using the same equation and comes to 480,000 tons in year 2008.
Table 2. CO2 emission reduction per year by using clean energy in non-Olympic places- 5. What kind of causation or responsibility is argued or implied in the article?
It has been argues that whether China should put the GHGs mitigation as the first priority or link it with the existing local and regional air pollution control strategy and sustainable development frameworks. The latter one would provide more incentive and cheaper or even a win-win solution for the developing and undeveloped economies. Air quality controlling and economy development are never contradicted to each other. China as one of the largest countries in the world should take the responsibilities.- 6. How (if at all) are health disparities or other equity issues addressed in the article or report?
Not particularly addressed.- 8. How literature supports/opposes what you knew about 2008 Beijing Olympics?
Although the CO2 emission has been reduced by the greening measures for Beijing Olympic Games, there are some activities bringing incremental CO2 emission comparing to the Business As Usual scenario (BAU). The key activities caused CO2 emission includes international/domestic flights, incremental transport services, and Olympic venues operating during the games and constructing Olympics games venues. CO2 emission by international and domestic flights for 2008 Games can be estimated by multiplying the CO2 emission of a round trip per capita by the number of traveling people. By calculating using value for CO2 emission of a round trip per capita of Carbon Neutral Company, about 570 thousand tons CO2 is emitted by the international and domestic flights, and about 1.7~1.8 million tons is estimated while using referencing value of WWF.Citation: http://www.bjkw.gov.cn/n244495/