The strongest dust storm in 10 years hit northern China on Monday, illustrating what conservation organizations have called an “ ecological crisis. ”
Li Shuo, policy director for Greenpeace China, told The New York Times that the storm, which grounded hundreds of flights, “was the result of land and environmental degradation in north and west Beijing.” Industrial pollutants in the Beijing area have so far exceeded the annual average for the past four years so far this year, he added.
“Beijing is what an ecological crisis looks like. After two weeks of smog and static air, strong winds carry in a sandstorm, sending [air quality index] off the map, ”said Li.
Beijing is what an ecological crisis looks like. After two weeks of smog and static air, strong winds bring in a sandstorm, removing AQI from the map. It’s hard to say we’re moving forward when you can’t see what’s happening in front of you. pic.twitter.com/m0wS5oYg6O
– Li Shuo_Greenpeace (@LiShuo_GP) March 15, 2021
The weather system was rooted in a winter storm that swept through Mongolia, where it killed at least nine and cut power in various regions of the country. In the north of China, the air exceeded the dangers of suspended particles.
The air quality measurements reached 999 Monday after averaging about 80 for most of 2020.
The Chinese weather agency has issued a “yellow warning” due to the storm. The event stretched from the northwestern provinces of Xinjiang and Gansu to inner Mongolia and Hebei province, according to NPR. Overall, the storm hit 12 counties and cities, NPR reported, citing state media.
The weather has been likened to the “air pocalypse” events that hit the country in recent years before the leaders of the Chinese Communist Party took steps to reduce pollution.
Beijing officials imposed a restraining order on children, the sick and the elderly because the resulting smog discolored the air. According to the Times, the effects are expected to last at least Tuesday morning.
President Xi Jinping has said that a “green revolution” is needed in the country and that China will step up efforts to reduce carbon emissions, but this goal is often at odds with accelerating economic development. Heavy pollution in recent days has been linked to increased steel and cement production, and China’s Ministry of Ecology and Environment recently told local officials that four steel mills in Hebei Province have not cut emissions enough, according to the Times.