This month, the air in Beijing has been clear and the skies blue. Last year as a whole, Beijing recorded its largest improvement in air quality on record. Millions living in the region surrounding Beijing lost their coal-fired heating without receiving gas heat to replace it and have suffered through freezing weather. “We need to recognize that a very important battle has been won,” said Ma Jun, founder of the Institute of Public and Environmental Affairs in Beijing. In their zeal to please the central government, some officials overstepped the mark, demolishing millions of coal heaters before installing replacement natural gas systems.

Source: Washington Post January 13, 2018 12:56 UTC