Commitment: Beijing will complete 20 major projects costing $12.2 billion, aimed at improving the environment by the year 2007, and providing a clean environment for the athletes by 2008. The air quality will meet national and World Health Organization standards.

Current status quo: Since 1998, the city has invested 100 billion yuan ($14.7 billion) to treat and prevent pollutants coming from soft coal, vehicles, industries, and dust. The project, underlining ecological protection and construction, introduced 200 measures in 14 phases. The efforts have made the air quality improve for nine successive years, and "blue sky" days increased from 100 in 1998 to 246 in 2007. The city’s forestry coverage has reached a level of 51.6 percent.

(Source: the Beijing News, aoyun.bjipo.gov.cn, 61.135.189.87/new_olympic, and cctv.com)