“制造雾霾”的人们

摘要：两会期间，《今日主角》栏目将推出两会特刊”每日看点“，剖析当天最热点的两会财经话题。今天，我们谈的是雾霾。在2日的全国政协十二届三次会议新闻发布会上，全国政协发言人吕新华表示，为了申冬奥，政府将加速区域大气污染治理的进程。这势必对环北京的河北省重工业经济带产生影响。河北省的钢铁产能巨大，在媒体人柴静的《穹顶之下》一片中，这被视为是华北地区雾霾的一个重要污染源。而庞大的钢铁产能背后，是

上百万依赖此就业生活的人们。

“邯郸的空气是辣的”。

20xx年12月末，我去河北邯郸市参加朋友婚礼，出高铁的那一刻，习惯了北京雾霾的我居然被带着微辣的空气呛到了。坐车进入市区后，浓重的雾霾笼罩了整个城市，伸手不见五指，宛如《寂静岭》之城。当地接待的朋友告诉我，面对这么严重的雾霾，当地的措施是：汽车单双号限行，钢铁厂继续生产。

邯郸自古就是中国的钢铁重镇，它是环绕着北京的河北省重工业群的一部分，南有邯郸、东有唐山，倘若风向有变，二氧化硫、二氧化氮、PM2.5和各种粉尘将飘到北京，华北上空雾蒙蒙一片。

徐建（化名）曾是河北某市一家钢铁厂的负责人。他之前是河北一家大型民营钢企的工程师，20xx年正值钢铁行业鼎盛之时，普通板材价格从3000元飙升至六七千元仍供不应求。徐建决定辞职，融资建厂。在河北，像这样规模的钢厂很多，特别是4万亿带动的基建最红火的时候，依傍钢铁基地的优势，河北的各家钢铁厂赚得盆满钵满。

但行业效益红火的背后是空气污染加重。

前媒体人柴静制作了一部引起热议的纪录片《穹顶之下》，片子认为河北的钢铁、水泥、玻璃等重工业是华北雾霾的重要污染源。生产一吨钢，需要消耗600公斤煤炭、3—6吨水，排放1.53公斤二氧化硫、1公斤烟尘。即使是在被压缩了钢铁产量，20xx年，河北依然生产了2亿吨钢铁，其中绝大部分是低端的粗钢。以此计算，共排放了20万吨烟尘和30.6万吨二氧化硫，这其中很多是环卫未达标的企业排放的。

在片中，柴静问国家环保部科技标准司司长（原华北督查中心主任）熊跃辉说为什么不取缔那些违规的钢铁厂时，熊跃辉说：“监管部门都不想去，触及这一块，关得了吗，你取缔得了吗？一千万吨钢是多少人就业，十万人就业，河北的钢铁已经到了你取缔不了的程度。”

事实上，并非取缔不了，但不是以环保的名义，而是“化解产能过剩”以及治理亏损的名义。

徐建的好日子没过几年，到了20xx年，随着需求拐点，钢铁行业开始步入“寒冬”，钢铁生产出来了，却很难卖出去，号称“卖钢铁不如卖白菜”，徐建的工厂也不例外。据测算，当时中国的钢铁产能已经过剩了2亿多吨，并且随着经济增速放缓，产能过剩还将增加，随之带来的是钢企效益下滑和负债严重。

行业形势严峻，20xx年10月国务院出台了《关于化解产能严重过剩矛盾的指导意见》，《意见》指出，如不及时采取措施加以化解，势必会加剧市场恶性竞争，造成行业亏损面扩大、企业职工失业、银行不良资产增加、能源资源瓶颈加剧、 生态环境恶化等问题，直接危及产业健康发展，甚至影响到民生改善和社会稳定大局。意见提出到20xx年，我国将压缩8000万吨产能，其中6000万吨落在钢铁第一大省河北。

在中央政府的严厉压力下，20xx年，河北共压减炼铁产能1500余万吨、炼钢1500余万吨，超额完成年初所定压减钢铁3000万吨产能的任务。

但所付出的代价就是——20xx年，河北省的GDP增速仅为6.5%，位列全国倒数。有河北省发改委人士曾表示，等到河北省完成工业调整时，估计将失去20万个钢铁业工作岗位。

徐建工厂的产能也一压再压，加上严厉的环保整治，20xx年6月徐建最终下定决心关掉工厂，“我也知道钢铁生产会污染空气，但工厂生存都成问题了，如果按照要求上环保设备，一是无钱投入，二是即便投入了，钢铁市场不景气，何时能够挤压出来这么多利润是个问题”。

河北省还推动国营钢铁集团陆续兼并民营钢铁企业，产能曾迅速扩张。但在“节能减排”的压力下，不但徐建所在城市的民营小钢铁厂日子难过关门了事，就连其他重工业城市的国营钢铁大厂也自身难保。

邯郸钢铁厂是中国最大钢铁企业河北钢铁集团旗下的公司，曾是邯郸人就业的首选，被当地人视为是“铁饭碗”，都想进去工作。曾有工人对媒体说：“我们的设备落后，而且也的确污染空气，但我们有大约3万名工人，是这里最大的企业。”

河北省还有3000万吨的产能压减指标，这势必将影响到国有大钢铁集团，也将影响上百万的产业工人。 钢铁企业从业者们认为，这个进程将是缓慢的。另一位在邯郸某钢铁厂工作的人士对搜狐财经说：“环保肯定是要的，为了长久发展是值得的，我想政府也不可能大规模关停企业。只能是一步步的来。环保重要吃饭更重要！产能过剩不仅仅是中国存在。”

对于《穹顶之下》一片中对环保部门不作为的批评，该位人士并不认同。他说“就拿我们钢厂来说吧，当地的环保部门那是真卡哟。不排除个别企业和当地政府虚假瞒报。总得来说环保力度是很大的。这是工业化经济大发展必然带来的后果。治理也不是一蹴而就的，一如当年的西方发达国家。”

事实上，钢铁企业不过是为了满足中国这个世界第二大体量的经济体的需求，中国每年需要消耗掉8亿吨钢铁。为了让钢铁行业转型升级，特别是对当地经济和就业极为重要的上市钢铁公司，地方政府不断给予专项补贴。根据iFinD数据显示，20xx年至20xx年中期，沪深两市34家以钢铁为主业的上市公司分别得到政府财政补贴12.92亿元、26.99亿元、44.72亿元、29.86亿元和14.07亿元。

然而，眼下，就业、经济增长与环保的天平正在向环保一边倾斜，不但是因为《穹顶之下》引发的争论，更重要的是，今年1月6日北京与张家口冬奥申委在瑞士洛桑向国际奥委会提交20xx年冬奥会的申办报告。冬奥会在冬天举行，那时正是雾霾的高发期，要想申奥成功，就不可避免要控制住空气污染。

在3月2日举行的全国政协十二届三次会议新闻发布会上，全国政协发言人吕新华在面对记者提问时说：“关于治理大气污染，冬奥申委主席、市长王安顺认为申办和筹办冬奥会能够加速区域大气污染治理的进程，从现在算起至20xx年还有7年时间。如加速推进北京市清洁空气行动计划，原定20xx年实现蓝天白云的目标有可能提前。”

可以做比较的是，20xx年奥运会期间，首钢的5座高炉中有4座关闭，北京和周边地区大约1100家制造厂停工，1.63万个燃煤锅炉改用清洁燃料。这次整治空气污染力度或许还要更严厉。

吕新华说：“加速大气污染治理不仅京津冀1亿多常住人口受益，受首都圈榜样示范作用影响，全国各地也会加速。”

这意味着，7年的倒计时开始。为了京津冀1亿多常住人口和冬奥会，钢铁厂的股东、工人、家属们的命运或许就此改变。

 

第二篇：中国的雾霾

(CNN) -- Beijingers are once again choking as smog levels hit "heavy or even worse" levels in the capital and a number of other cities across the country.

Persistent problems with city air have prompted officials and entrepreneurs to consider ways to protect their citizenry from the pollution.

Beijing was under an "orange" smog alert Monday, which marks the first time the second-highest warning level of a new system introduced last year has been raised. The National Meteorological Center (NMC) Tuesday continued the alert for another 24 hours.

Capital measures come amid fog of pollution

Heavy smog routinely blankets the capital, all but blotting out the sun and forcing residents inside. Australian Open champion Li Na revealed she's had to train indoors in Beijing due to the high levels of pollution, while smog across most of northern and eastern China has prompted officials to send teams of investigators to the worst-hit parts of the country.

Smog blankets Beijing traffic -- a regular experience in the Chinese capital in recent times. An empty playground at the International School of Beijing as students are kept indoors due to heavy smog. Basketball courts in the city lie deserted as pollution levels reach dangerous levels. The ISB's new "smog dome" functions as a sports center for students. The school's dome has a pressurized, soft Teflon roof. Students Hanna and Emily Merritt: "We have the dome but it would be great if we can go outside and play." Air is filtered to keep harmful particulates out of the dome. Soccer practice is held on artificial turf under the dome. Students spend their break times under the school's clean-air dome. A sign points students and visitors in the direction of the dome as smog levels rise. Grey skies and regularly high levels of particulates have forced ISB students indoors. Bad day, good day: CNN's views of Beijing on smoggy and clear days. Life under the dome: How kids play at a Beijing schoolKids at play under the smog domeLife under the dome: How kids play at a Beijing schoolLife under the dome: How kids play at a Beijing schoolLife under the dome: How kids play at a Beijing schoolLife under the dome: How kids play at a Beijing schoolLife under the dome: How kids play at a Beijing schoolLife under the dome: How kids play at a Beijing schoolLife under the dome: How kids play at a Beijing schoolLife under the dome: How kids play at a Beijing schoolLife under the dome: How kids play at a Beijing schoolLife under the dome: How kids play at a Beijing schoolHIDE CAPTION<<< 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 >>>

In pictures: Kids inside smog dome

Your video will begin momentarily.China's toxic smog problem

China's smog soars

Smog in China kills millions prematurely Officials at the Ministry of Environmental Protection cited "unfavorable meteorological conditions and firework and firecracker spree(s)" as the cause of the heavily polluted air. China's Lunar New Year celebrations, which took place earlier this month, are often accompanied by firework displays, and neighborhoods resound with the sound of

firecrackers。

The air pollution index recorded levels of over 400, referring to the number of PM2.5 -- harmful particulates measuring 2.5 microns or larger -- per cubic meter of air. The World Health Organization recommends guideline values of 25 PM2.5 in a 24-hour period.

The smog is expected to ease towards the end of the week.

Many are at least trying to tackle the matter themselves. From ubiquitous air filters in people's homes to the near-mandatory facemasks that Beijingers wear outdoors on heavily-polluted days, personal health is a priority. Given the restrictions in place on residents -- particularly the young and the elderly -- when the warnings go up, some more extreme measures have been taken.

Life under the dome

The International School of Beijing has taken to shielding their young charges from the city's air as the next logical step. At a cost of $5 million, the school has constructed two domes that enclose the entirety of its outdoor areas, allowing students to play and exercise year-round, regardless of how smoggy life is outside the enclosure. While it is a costly solution, other schools, alongside sports facilities and even wealthy individuals are placing orders. Until the skies clear, life in the bubble seems surprisingly good.

The world's factory

China's aggressive economic growth model means that heavy industrial activity also contributes heavily to the degradation of the air quality. As part of their anti-pollution measures, some factories surrounding the capital -- Hebei is a huge steel-producing region -- have been forced to close temporarily following the raising of the orange alert.

Earlier in the year, the ministry upgraded emission standards for various heavy industries and waste disposal processes, upgrading protocols that were in some cases legacies of original standards, set in the 1980s before the onset of much of China's present industrial capacity. Problems, however, persist.

The Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences and the Beijing-based Social Science Academic Press released a report in early February which ranked the two cities towards the top of a list of the worst-polluted cities. Beijing ranked second, just behind Moscow.

Blue-sky thinking?

In the face of growing social unease at worsening environmental conditions, authorities are committed to rectifying the problem, and Beijing will allocate 760 billion yuan (about 124.64 billion dollars) to improve the city's air quality by 2017, Mayor Wang Anshun said last month at a municipal NPC meeting.

The figure includes incentives for clean factories, and the municipal government has also improved the case for electric vehicles (EVs) by granting subsidies and license plate lottery waivers to those buying Chinese-made cars, while switching government fleets to electric.

The country is one of the world's largest producers of green energy technology, although much of it is exported at present.

More ambitious fixes have been proposed, including more "meteorological support services" -- such as cloud seeding -- as well as a giant "vacuum cleaner" designed by a Dutch artist, and skyscraper-mounted sprinklers. These solutions, their inventors promise, will either trap or wash the smog away.

Naked run

A novel approach to highlighting the problem came on Sunday as more than 300 runners, according to official news sources, took to Beijing Olympic Park wearing no more than their underwear -- and in at least one instance a gas mask -- to join a "naked run" protesting the city's poor air quality.

The best defense is a good smog

A silver lining to the smog-cloud might be the military advantage it offers. Chinese military theorist Rear Admiral Zhang Zhaozhong told the Beijing Youth Daily that smog could be a defense against "laser weapons", given that heavy smog can impede or block the technology.

"Smog with PM2.5 readings of 500-600 is virtually impenetrable to lasers. In clear weather, laser weapons have a range of 10 kilometers, but smog can reduce this to less than 1 kilometer," he said, although later was forced to defend his remarks against accusations of naivety and advocating a reckless defense theory。

It's another bad-air day in Beijing. You can barely see. You can barely breathe. But you can feel -- and even taste -- the grit floating in the air.

The World Health Organization has set healthy level of Air Quality Index at 25 micrograms, while Beijing considers a 300 reading as "Bad" and 500 as "Hazardous." Last weekend, however, it breached 700!

"I'm getting itchy," complained my daughter Michelle, 22, visiting us from New York. "I could feel it at the back of my throat."

Longtime expatriate residents in the Chinese capital jokingly call it the "Beijing tickle," a nagging cough that takes a long time to shrug off.

Beijing adopts emergency measures for hazardous pollution

Air pollution is a major problem in China because of the country's rapid pace of industrialization, reliance on coal power, explosive growth in car ownership and the sometimes disregard for environmental laws.

It is now paying the price of rapid development.

In 2007, China overtook the United States as the world's biggest emitter of greenhouse gases, according to China's Ministry of Commerce. It is also the No. 1 source of carbon emission worldwide, state-run China Daily reported recently.

Beijing experiences terrible air quality Added to this, the World Bank says 20 of the 30 most polluted cities in the world are in China.

Health is the big casualty.

Greenpeace on Beijing's hazardous smog Almost 400,000 premature deaths are recorded in China each year, with the majority related to pollution, according to the World Bank's "Cost of Pollution in China," a report based on official Chinese figures.

Beijing's pollution merely 'hazardous' A growing number of individuals and institutions are looking to find last-gasp solutions.

I could feel it at the back of my throat

Michelle FlorCruz, daughterThe government has already shut down high-polluting factories, built new subway lines, and allocated state subsidies to reduce the cost of public transport.

Beijing bans vehicles from the road one day a week to reduce heavy traffic and vehicle emissions.

It also imports natural gas from other provinces to rely less on coal for heating and cooking.

As part of a long-term solution, Chinese researchers are producing prototypes of solar and electric cars to replace gas-fueled vehicles.

So far, these measures have not produced consistently blue skies and clean air.

Green activists complain that even though government regulations have improved, laws are often ignored.

One of Beijing's big problems has been the city's geography, as it is surrounded by mountains shaped like a horseshoe.

When pollution blows in from the heavily industrial neighboring towns and cities, it builds up and, in windless days, gets trapped over the capital.

Off-the-charts pollution in China

In fact, this is not the first time bad air has bedeviled Beijing. I remember one day last year when the U.S. embassy's air monitoring system reported the pollution level as "crazy bad."

What can we Beijing residents do about it?

Wear face masks? Unless you use heavy-duty ones, I am told, they do not really make much difference.

Turn on air-purifiers full blast? We've never used one at home, although my friends swear they help.

"The truth is there isn't a lot people can do about ambient air pollution," said Deborah Soligsohn, an environment and energy specialist at the World Resources Institute, a U.S. based think tank.

"Ambient air pollution is not nearly as large a health risk as more immediate forms of air pollution. Tobacco is a much larger killer, and indoor air pollution from poorly ventilated wood and coal fires has traditionally been a much larger killer in the developing world. Smoky restaurants and bars can have levels as high as these recent air pollution numbers."

I know a few expat friends who have decided to relocate out of Beijing and were mainly turned off by its bad air.

"What did you think of Beijing?" I asked David Van Dyke, who lived and worked in Beijing for nearly seven years before relocating to Canada last year.

"Mostly liked it, save for the Internet (censorship) and pollution," he said.

Meantime, some residents have resorted to humor and sarcasm online to vent their frustration.

"I love my city, but I refuse to be a human vacuum cleaner," netizens re-tweeted on Weibo, China's microblogging social media. "We want clean air, and we want to breathe freely."

Others posted pictures wearing face masks of various shapes and designs.

A page of Sohu.com featured a section covered with haze, with a note saying the headlines have been obscured by a massive smog. "Click on it, and it will clear up." Once it cleared it, the title read: "We live in a "toxic gas.'"

"Don't worry," Henry Ngo posted on my Facebook page. "Smokers are inhaling worst air than this. And they did not die immediately!"

Is this now the new "normal"?

Soligsohn, who lived in Beijing for 14 years, does not think so.

"This is a confluence of bad events," she assured me. "Pollution is definitely a problem. It hasn't gone away, but there is no reason to believe an extreme reading is anything other than an extreme."

There seems to be no quick solution.

"This is complex and takes time, but the work has begun," Soligsohn added.

"It took cities like London and Los Angeles almost half a century to get from really dirty air to pretty clean air, and LA has never actually fully met EPA standards, which have become tougher with new information."

Five days after what some have dubbed Beijing's "air-mageddon," the sunshine has reappeared, and the air has actually turned relatively clear.

My daughter points out that London and Los Angeles have confronted pollution as well. As long as the Chinese recognize it is a problem, they will eventually be able to strike a balance between a clean environment and a thriving economy."

Wind has dispersed some of the smog, although my chest remains heavy and my throat is still itchy.