Olympics spur factory closures across N. China

Factories in six provinces and municipalities across northern China have begun to be shut down in order to clear up Beijing’s air for the Olympics in August, the Wall Street Journal reported. Authorities in Hebei, Shandong, Shanxi, Beijing, Tianjin and Inner Mongolia are targeting heavily polluting facilities, especially coke, cement and small-sized steel factories, in a campaign lasting from January to June. Beijing alone aims to close 40 factories this year, in addition to 29 that were closed in 2007. Although previous Olympic host cities have shut down factories ahead of their games, Beijing’s effort to curb pollution is by far the most expansive. International Olympic Committee President Jacques Rogge said in an interview in September that some events may have to be postponed due to the pollution in Beijing.