Beijing Takes 180,000 Polluting Cars Off The Road In Four Months

Earlier this year Chen Jining, China's Minister of Environmental Protection, blamed traffic for Beijing's grave air pollution statistics. He said traffic is responsible for 31 per cent of Beijing's total particulate matter. Additionally, the Beijing Municipal Environmental Protection Bureau said the capital has 5.7 million vehicles - responsible for half of the city's nitrogen oxide emissions which is a major source of smog.

In January and February, average readings of small breathable particles, PM2.5, reached 95 micrograms per cubic metre in Beijing, registering an increase of 69.6 per cent in comparison to the same period last year. In contrast to those numbers, the World Health Organization recommends concentrations of just 10 micrograms. Following this, Beijing has vowed to pursue monumental measures this year in order to meet the 2013-2017 air pollution targets.

The city hopes to bring the average down to around 60 micrograms this year - a drop of over 25 per cent from 2012 levels.