Eliminating pollution is everyone's task

Pollution has again shrouded central and eastern China in recent weeks, raising public concerns about the air. Aside from the obvious culprits, such as the unbalanced industrial structure, inadequate energy saving and emission reductions, everyone should think about how they may have contributed to the smog, says an article in People's Daily. Excerpts:

PM 2.5, particulate matter smaller than 2.5 microns in diameter, first come to public attention when Beijing began to suffer from smog and haze last winter. Faced with public questioning about the pollution, environmental authorities released a timetable for monitoring PM 2.5, and local governments also changed their approach, from side-stepping the issue, to quick response, taking into consideration reasonable suggestions.

However, the battle against haze asks for more than mere acknowledgement of it, and its elimination will be long and arduous.

Changing the development mode will impact on the health and sustainable development of China’s economy, its people and the nation. When it comes to things that have great effect on the country's fate, the government should never go easy on any individual or company, and every resident of China must play their part in eliminating the haze.

Every one of us is culpable. When we complain about the poor air quality, or worry about how to explain the smog to children, we forget that we are also "contributing" to the pollution: vehicle exhaust, fireworks or straw we burn. Public figures, too, despite constantly informing the people of the air pollution index, their companies have actually not stopped working during the polluted weather.

It is easier to complain than to start to protect the environment oneself. We must become aware and alert to every individual's social responsibility.