See our bilingual (English and Chinese) blog dedicated to discussion of China's environmental law, policy and public participation at http://www.greenlaw.org.cn/enblog. 

Last week was Spring Festival in China.  Despite the economic downturn, well-reported recent drops in energy use (see here and here) and the hush and general lack of activity that falls across Beijing during Spring Festival, the air quality in the capital city recently has seemed worse than it's been in a long time. Checking the Ministry of Environmental Protection's website for environmental quality data, we found that the air quality scores over the last week showed four days in the 130 range, which is decidedly polluted ("Sufferers of heart disease or respiratory system illness should reduce physical exertion and outdoor activity" MEP's website advises for API scores of 101-200). Could the war zone of Beijing New Year's fireworks be responsible for this? Evidence suggests "yes." (see here, here and here).

Note that MEP has revamped its environmental data center (Chinese only). It's worth taking some time to look around the newly designed site.

Of note, among other things, are:

• Water Quality Reporting: a section describing water quality in China's major rivers and lakes (Songhua, Liao, Hai, Huai, Yellow, Yangtze, Zhu, Qiantang, Min and Xinanzhu Rivers; Tai, Chao andDian Lakes) and a weekly narrative report;
• Air and Water Data Analysis: two special sections containing analysis of water and air quality data, including rankings of the best and worst cities on a rolling 30-day and annual basis; and
• 86 Key Cities Air Quality Reporting: traditional features, such as daily air quality index data and forecasts for 86 "key" cities (重点城市).

The data analysis is particularly interesting and kudos to MEP for putting this analysis out in the public domain. What can we learn from all of this data?

Top 10 Least Polluted Cities in China (according to MEP)
We learn, for example, that over the last year the top 10 least polluted cities by number of Class I days (the cleanest days, API < 50) are:

1. Zhanjiang, Guangdong
2. Haikou, Hainan
3. Lhasa, Tibet
4. Guilin, Guangxi
5. Beihai, Guangxi
6. Zhuhai, Guangdong
7. Nanning, Guangxi
8. Rizhao, Shandong
9. Shenzhen, Guangdong
10. Mudanjiang, Heilongjiang

For the most part, no surprises here as most are coastal cities or ones with low levels of industry. The Special Economic Zone of Shenzhen is a surprise though. Top 10 despite its level of economic hyper-development.

Top 10 Most Polluted Cities in China (according to MEP)
The top 10 most polluted cities by number of non-blue sky days over the last year are:

1. Hefei, Anhui
2. Urumqi, Xinjiang
3. Lanzhou, Gansu
4. Beijing
5. Jinan, Shandong
6. Xian, Shaanxi
7. Wuhan, Hubei
8. Chongqing
9. Shijiazhuang, Hebei
10. Xining, Qinghai

Again, no real surprises. However, Beijing's appearance at number 4 on the list is troubling given the Olympics push. Regional pollution issues and transportation (including poor fuel quality) are probably two of the most intractable issues for Beijing. The city has made some moves on transportation, but the regional issues will require serious regulatory innovation and devotion of more resources in the next amendment to China's clean air law. This will include shoring up some of the basics of air regulation including more scientific, health-based air quality standards, a robust permitting system, greater central (MEP) authority over regional air issues and planning, stronger penalties, more enforcers, pricing and market measures to improve efficiency, more stringent fuel standards, regulation of non-road engines and a host of other measures. Greater transparency is critical as well, and MEP's revamping of this data center heads us in the right direction at least.

Serious Water Pollution in Over 1/3 of Water Bodies Measured
From the water quality report released on January 19, 2009, we learn that 38% of the segments measured were Class IV or worse.

We'll be tracking this data center over the coming weeks and months and blogging about interesting findings. If you see something of note, please let us know. Thanks again to MEP for expanding this information service. We hope you'll continue to add more to this service.