01/21/2013
Beijing Introduces New Laws to Curb Pollution
Plagued with air pollution 50 times worse than London or New York, Chinese officials announced steps to cut Beijing's thick smog. Beijing’s municipal government plans to reduce the number of factories operating around the city, limit the burning of coal and ban certain types of vehicles from roadways on days when pollution is especially bad.
■Class discussion: Many say weak environmental rules have cleared the way China's explosive economic growth. How bad is air and water pollution in China? Are all China's new jobs and growing wealth worth it? Would you ease U.S. environmental restrictions to create more jobs? Are our air and water cleaner since environmental laws were passed in the 1970s?