Article
Wang Tao
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Source: Getty
In The Media
Beijing Traffic Ban: Hard to Reach Public
Although the Chinese coal industry has been targeted as the country’s main source of pollution, traffic may well be the main cause of air pollution in Beijing.
By Wang Tao
Published on Oct 16, 2013
Source: CCTV News
Carnegie–Tsinghua’s Wang Tao appeared on CCTV News’ China 24 to discuss Beijing’s new traffic ban, part of its efforts to control the city’s air pollution problem. Although the Chinese coal industry has been targeted as the country’s main source of pollution, Wang argued that traffic is in fact the main cause of air pollution in Beijing. However, he suggested that Beijing’s new traffic ban is an attempted quick fix that offers no concrete improvement to the problem and instead inconveniences the daily lives of residents.
Wang stated that the overcrowded subways are a significan factor in the rise in ownership of personal vehicles, leading to more carbon emissions. To encourage more use of public transportation, Wang suggested that instead of a traffic ban, the government should reinstate Beijing's original plan for commuter trains which would be built above ground and are capable of transporting larger volumes of people.
About the Author
Wang Tao
Former Nonresident Scholar, Carnegie-Tsinghua Center for Global Policy
Wang Tao was a nonresident scholar in the Energy and Climate Program based at the Carnegie–Tsinghua Center for Global Policy.
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Recent Work
Carnegie does not take institutional positions on public policy issues; the views represented herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of Carnegie, its staff, or its trustees.
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