China Plans First “No Car Day” on Sept. 22 to Reduce Pollution
Bloomberg.com reports on China’s attempts to reduce air pollution by banning cars in 108 different cities on “No Car Day,” taking place September 22.
The streets will be closed to automobiles (except taxis and buses) from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. to celebrate World Carfree Day, a global event backed by the United Nations. China had about 4.37 million new vehicles hit the streets in just the first half of 2007, and one day of no driving will cut an estimated 3,000 tons of CO2 emissions and save 33 million liters (over 8.7 million gallons) of gasoline.
China’s air pollution problems have already put the status of the 2008 Olympics in jeopardy; the country overtook the United States last year as the world’s largest emitter of greenhouse gases. For more information on air quality, visit Earth 911′s Air Quality page.
