The air quality of the Pingtan Comprehensive Pilot Zone in Fujian province dropped slightly in 2014 as the zone saw itself shrouded by smog for 20 days, said the local meteorological department on March 10.

By contrast, Pingtan experienced no more than 10 hazy days every year from 2011 to 2013.

A clear day in the Pingtan Comprehensive Pilot Zone in Fujian province. [Photo/ptnet.cn]

The figures have triggered heated discussions among local residents concerned about a slump in Pingtan’s environment. Experts believe the concerns are unnecessary.

“We can’t equate smoggy days with bad environment condition. They do have connections, but there are also differences,” said Gao Chengliang, director of the department.

“Pingtan only sees a small number of hazy days, which, most of the time, are caused by cold fronts from North China. But they only linger for a short period, as Pingtan is subject to strong winds, and the wide open terrain is conducive to the dispersing of pollutants.”

Lin Wen, an official with the local environment monitoring station, echoed Gao’s sentiment, saying: “In fact, the air quality of Pingtan is much better than other places in Fujian. That’s because of constant windy weather and a small amount of industrial pollutants.”

“The three particle matter monitors have together shown that about two-thirds of the year has good air quality. So people don’t have to worry about it. Just breathe normally and as much as you want.”

Pingtan has undergone tremendous change in the past few years due to comprehensive infrastructure construction to accommodate more industries. Authorities have assured the public that Pingtan is in pursuit of a green economy.

“The overall development plan of Pingtan has pointed out that Pingtan will focus on pollution-free and low-carbon projects. We will also strive to increase the vegetation coverage in the future. The public are encouraged to take public transportation using clean and renewable energy,” said Gao.

Voices from society

Lin Fa: I feel lucky to have grown up in Pingtan. The sky is always clear and the air is fine. We can watch stars at night. As one of its residents, I will stick to the low-carbon transportation method, driving less and walking more. I also hope that authorities can examine large vehicles at construction sites and ban those that fail emission standards.

Lin Jingjing: Pingtan should pay attention to the air quality since it hopes to become an international tourist destination. We can chip in by using cars less and calling the 12369 hotline to help supervise polluting behaviors.

Wu Jing: I am studying at a university in Fuzhou city. I think Pingtan’s air quality is way better than Fuzhou, which definitely is good for the development of tourism. The society must raise their environmental protection awareness as well.