Chengdu mayor talks about environmental protection with citizens at teahouse

The Chengdu mayor meets with citizen representatives on Thursday evening at a teahouse to talk about the prevention and control of air pollution. [Photo provided to China Daily]

The mayor of Chengdu, capital of Sichuan province met with 12 citizen representatives on Thursday evening at a teahouse for the third year in a row to talk about the prevention and control of air pollution.

The representatives, coming from all walks of life, expressed their feelings on the improvement of the environment and put forward opinions and suggestions on environmental protection.

Tian Xianghe, an amateur photographer, said he had clearly felt the improvement of air quality in recent years, as he had more chances to take photos of the snow mountains around the city.

“In 2016, I photographed snow mountains more than 10 times. In 2017, I photographed about 30 times. And this year, 50 times!” said Tian, showing a pile photos of the snow mountains he had taken to the mayor and citizen representatives.

The air quality of Chengdu this year is the best since the new national air quality assessment standards were implemented in 2013, according to Luo Qiang, the mayor.

As of Dec 26, Chengdu had 245 days of good air quality, 10 days more than last year. The average concentrations of PM10 and PM2.5 were 82 micrograms per cubic meter and 51 micrograms per cubic meter, decreasing 5.7 percent and 7.3 percent year-on-year respectively.

Tian Xianghe, an amateur photographer, shows photos of the snow mountains around Chengdu he took this year. [Photo provided to China Daily]

"I thought the air treatment of Chengdu might be more difficult than that of London in the past, because the city's natural conditions are so poor as it is at the bottom of a basin", said Fan Jianchuan, founder and director of the Jianchuan Museum, who was surprised that the city's air quality has improved so much in only few years.

Fan suggested the city improve the infrastructures for bicycle riding and encourage citizens to ride bicycles more often instead of driving a car.

Jiang Han, the environmental protection ambassador of Chengdu, suggested that relevant departments compile educational books on the environment for primary and secondary school students, and carry out public behavioral norms for environment protection.

"It is the responsibility and obligation of every citizen to protect the environmental", she said, adding that this concept and consciousness should be cultivated from childhood education.

Li Guangyu, who works at glass manufacturing industry, suggest the government consider the industrial structure of the city, as well as the practical level of environmental protection technology and equipment, when formulating local environmental protection regulations.

"Although some achievements have been made in the prevention and control of air pollution, there is still much work to be done to thoroughly improve the environment", said the mayor, calling on the citizens to practice a green and low-carbon lifestyle.