Two Hot Reasons Beijing's Air Quality Sucks

What causes pollution? Throw everything you thought you know out the window. It’s not traffic jams and not factory emissions. The hottest new scapegoats for the poor air we breathe are those greasy lamb skewers sold on the street and mystic Daoist rituals.

It wasn’t long ago that officials were accusing barbeques as one of the causes of pollution in Beijing. The government pushed for a country-wide ban on open-air grilling. The Sydney Morning Herald reported:

The Ministry of Environmental Protection earlier this month issued draft guidelines that also branded barbecues part of the [pollution] problem...It cited an anonymous official as calling on the public to abstain from outdoor grilling in favor of a more environmentally friendly way of life.

And now Global Times reports that joss paper burnt outside the Lama Temple is also being eyed as a sore point in Beijing residents’ struggle for breathable air:

Residents living near the Lama Temple in Dongcheng district have said that the constant burning of offerings along the street is making their lives a misery and ruining the local environment. Dongcheng urban management authorities said Tuesday that they have noticed the burning but there is little they can do as there are no regulations to expressly forbid it.

A local resident, surnamed Zhang, said that they are concerned about the air quality in the neighborhood, as people burn paper and incense all year round in metal boxes along the street, not just during the Qingming Festival. "The burning [of paper] in the red buckets has been going on for years, not just during this time," she said, noting that sometimes she could see and smell the smoke when walking on the street. "Although the law enforcement officers do come to inspect, the burning continues after they leave."

What’s the next thing to blame for Beijing’s poor AQI , farting Pekinese dogs?

For more paper burning traditions, read our guide on how to send an iPhone to the dead.

Photo: Josshouse