Following reports of particularly high pollution levels in China this month, when several regions experienced dense smog and low visibility, the Beijing Government has announced draft legislation aimed at tackling the problem. According to Bloomberg, the draft was put up on the Government’s website on Saturday and is open to public comment until 8 February 2013. It suggests banning the construction of new steel and cement plants, as well as shutting down sites when pollution reaches a certain level. Industrial facilities and power plants would need to provide information about their emissions and could face fines for not adhering to the new rules. The draft regulations also suggest limiting the use of vehicles when there are high levels of smog and fining drivers whose vehicles exceed emissions limits.
Edited from various sources by Louise Fordham.