Beijing's air fueling debate

Debate on the future of Beijing's air quality has continued amid the capital's return to normalcy after its hosting of the recent Olympics and Paralympics - with construction resuming, factories restarting operations and all cars allowed once again on the roads.

"We feel that the Olympics is the best thing that could have happened to air quality in the sense that it has put air quality fair and smack on the agenda," said Cornie Huizenga, executive director of the Manila-based Clean Air Initiative for Asian Cities, a network of governments, private sector and nongovernmental groups.

Drastic restrictions on private car use had taken half of Beijing's 3.3 million vehicles off the roads and shuttered polluting factories. Dust-spewing construction in the capital had also been halted.