Prudence needed

Shang Yinquan (China Industrial Economy News): The odd-even number plate policy may have contributed to the blue skies during the APEC meetings; however, it should not be taken for granted that as long as the policy is made permanent, Beijing's blue skies will remain.

The increasingly serious air pollution in Beijing and across north China has been caused by rapid economic development in the region in the past 20 to 30 years. Emissions from cars are only part of the reasons for smog.

The government needs to engage in careful deliberation before introducing the policy. What if smog still lingers after the policy is introduced? Should the government ban all cars then?

City management is a complicated process. Although international metropolises such as Tokyo and New York City, which also have a large number of cars, do not restrict vehicles, their air quality is still far better than that of Beijing. Beijing should learn from their management strategies.

It also needs to be noted that Beijing will raise ticket prices for buses and the subways by a large margin starting from December 28. So while the city mulls over measures to restrict car usage, it is not reducing the cost of public transportation to encourage its use but instead raising it. Such management maneuvers are highly questionable.

Hu Yinbin (The Beijing News): The government should be cautious about introducing the odd-even number car plate policy. Once the policy is put in place, it will have a deep impact upon citizens. Such a move may harm the right of the owners of the city's several million cars to use their vehicles. In addition, the public transportation system may heave under the increased daily volume of passengers. In addition to affecting travelers' convenience and comfort, the policy may reduce the vitality of the city.

It is undeniable that the odd-even number car plate system can help reduce emissions. According to statistics from the Beijing Municipal Environmental Protection Bureau, motor vehicle exhausts account for 31.1 percent of the PM2.5 (particulate matter measuring less than 2.5 microns in diameter) in the city's atmosphere and are the single largest contributor to Beijing's air pollution. The clean air experienced during the APEC meetings, when the car restriction measure was implemented, evidences the efficiency of the policy. However, much more needs to be done before making the temporary policy permanent.

On the one hand, relevant data needs to be gathered and studied to see how much the policy can contribute to alleviating air pollution; on the other, as the policy concerns the public interest, the public opinion should be given careful consideration.

To disperse Beijing's smog, one expedient short-term measure alone is far from sufficient. Instead, comprehensive pollution reduction measures should be taken. Beijing has formulated and implemented the Airborne Pollution Prevention and Control Action Plan (2013-17), pledging to reduce emissions and continually improve its air quality by reducing coal use, cutting industrial emissions, among other measures.

Pan Hongqi (Yangcheng Evening News): Vice Mayor Li showed caution in saying that the government will study the possibility of introducing the odd-even number car plate system. Li was being circumspect for two reasons. First, once the policy is made permanent, it will mean that half of the city's cars will be put off the roads every day including weekends and that the lives of citizens and the normal running of the city will consequently be greatly affected. Second, Beijing's policies will be highly influential over other big Chinese cities, which may follow the capital's example.

The idea of making the odd-even number plate system permanent is one that has been raised by the public. In a survey conducted on whether they would support such a system, 56.9 percent of the Beijing residents surveyed said yes. They believe that it is the policy combined with other emission reduction measures that created the rare blue skies during the APEC meetings. They assume that as long as the policy is made regular, the "APEC blue" will be maintained.

However, it should be noted that the APEC blue was achieved through measures being consistently taken and restricting cars was only one of them. Blue skies require a multitude of coordinated actions to curb air pollution, including adjusting the industrial structure, protecting the environment and reducing emissions.

There are multiple factors that contribute to air pollution, including industrial pollution, vehicle emissions, dust from construction sites, certain meteorological conditions such as static weather, and topographic conditions unfavorable to the dispersion of pollutants. Some say motor-vehicle emissions are the largest PM2.5 source while others say their contribution to air pollution has been greatly exaggerated. In addition, if the odd-even number plate system is made permanent, how can Beijing's public transportation system cope with the increased travel demand? As the system restricts citizens' right to use cars, will the government be capable of compensating for this? Only by carefully considering these questions can the government give a responsible answer to whether or not to adopt the policy.