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War on smog requires better health care
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ONE of the most notable things about Premier Li Keqiang’s first government report is his declaration of “war on smog.”
In his speech delivered on March 5, Li placed the significance of the battle against pollution and smog on par with China’s efforts to eradicate poverty.
It is rare for top Chinese statesmen to invoke such dramatic language as “declaring war,” which reflects the magnitude of the worsening air quality problem and underscores the leadership’s determination to confront it head-on.
Bold pledges must be followed up with action to be convincing.
And in this regard we may expect more forceful measures to come.
According to the premier, China will retire 6 million aging, so-called “yellow standard” vehicles this year that fail to meet national emissions standards. More efforts are expected in shutting down highly polluting coal-fired power plants and furnaces.
In a media conference on March 13, Li promised to cut energy intensity by 3.9 percent this year, which means reducing coal consumption by 220 million tons.
These pledges are indeed an imperative if China wants to win this high-profile “people’s war” against smog.
This war will surely be a battle of attrition, since the pervasive, persistent smog looks unlikely to disperse anytime soon. As such, the government needs to adopt a two-pronged strategy — phasing out polluting businesses and enhancing energy efficiency on the one hand, and caring for long-suffering citizens unable to breathe clean air on the other.
Many lawmakers and political advisers submitted smog-related proposals, including Beijing political adviser Xie Chaohua who argued for heightened awareness of health hazards and, more importantly, the need to care for groups most vulnerable to smog.
Xie called for provision of benefits to outdoor workers, such as sanitation, construction and parks workers, couriers and traffic policemen. Some people are at greater risk of respiratory diseases and lung damage as a result of long exposure to filthy, choking air. In some sense, the smog has widened the rights chasm between China’s haves and have-nots.
While the better-off and affluent can enjoy a respite from the smog by staying in the comfort of their cars or inside rooms equipped with air filters, underprivileged outdoor workers are bearing the brunt of foul air. And a filter such as Blueair, which can cost as much as 8,000 yuan (US$1,333), is simply out of reach for many.
‘Human flesh vacuums’
For this reason, sanitation workers and traffic policemen often jokingly and grotesquely, refer to themselves as “human flesh vacuums.”
Although some regulations require them to wear face masks on smoggy days, the effectiveness of the masks is unclear. Some people are reluctant to use them, saying it makes necessary communication difficult.
Political adviser Xie has suggested that governments shorten the time for outdoor work during peak levels of PM2.5 particles, the main culprits in haze. Hours for outdoor workers are occasionally cut or staggered during days of abysmal heat.
It would be a genuine demonstration of concern about people’s health and rights if his pleas are heeded.
Since Xie’s proposal made headlines, there has been widespread discussion of distributing lung-care products to outdoor workers.
By now, the government is keenly aware that smog is not just a threat to sustainable development. It is also a public health care crisis that threatens to add billions to its fiscal expenditures.
Given the cost, money invested in protecting people from the smog is money well-spent. After all, the war on smog is not just a war of the people, but also for the people.
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