An official from Ministry of Environmental Protection (MEP) announced today that MEP would join hands with Ministry of Agriculture to ban straw burning to ensure good air quality during the Olympics. From the beginning of May to the end of September, burning of straw will be completely banned in Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei, Henan, Shandong, Shanxi, Anhui, Jiangsu and Liaoning.

The official said, "The State Council pays much of its attention to straw burning and has made several important instructions to make more efforts in prohibiting straw burning and its comprehensive utilization. Since 2004, the former State Environmental Protection Administration have been applying modern technologies such as satellite remote sensing to have real-time monitoring on straw burning during summer and autumn across the country. Related information is posted on the website of China Environmental Hotline 12369 every day. In early 2008, National Development and Reform Commission worked with related departments to set up a coordination mechanism for comprehensive use of straw. All governments of various provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities have also strengthened ban on straw burning and its comprehensive use. Most areas have set up leading groups to make careful arrangement and coordination. And some progress has been achieved in this area."

As the official revealed, major areas burning straw in China included Henan, Anhui, Jiangsu, Shaanxi, Sichuan, Shanxi, Shandong and Hebei. According to monitoring data from satellite remote sensing, from 2004 to the summer of 2007, the number of fires in major winter wheat production areas were respectively 2481, 3092, 2473 and 2989. In 2007, fires monitored in Hebei, Henan, Shandong, Shanxi, Anhui, Jiangsu and Shaanxi were respectively 280, 1013, 357, 87, 577, 592 and 83, which involved 81 areas and 384 counties. Whenever harvest arrives, a good many straws will be burned, causing serious environmental pollution and harm to people's health and affecting traffic safety.

This official noted that to further ensure air quality during the Olympics, MEP and Ministry of Agriculture would take effective measures to promote ban on straw burning.

First, the scope of prohibited area of straw burning will be strictly defined. Apart from densely populated areas and those neighboring the air port and traffic trunks, all municipalities, capital cities of provinces and districts under the jurisdiction of sub-provincial-level cities will all be covered by the prohibited area. To guarantee air quality during the Olympics, a complete ban must be enforced from early May to the end of September in the major areas including Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei, Henan, Shandong, Shanxi, Anhui, Jiangsu and Liaoning.

Second, responsibility for banning straw burning will be implemented. Governments at all levels are the major party responsible for this work and they need to set up and improve target responsibility system, getting tough on reward and punishment measures and accountability system.

Third, law enforcement work must be enhanced. On-site law enforcement will be intensified to check and handle straw burning practices to ensure ambient air quality around key cities, traffic trunks and air port surroundings. From late May to Mid-June, MEP and Ministry of Agriculture will form inspection teams to inspect and report information on straw burning in Beijing, Hebei, Henan, Shandong, Anhui and Jiangsu.

Fourth, comprehensive utilization of straws will be promoted. Local governments should speed up efforts to plan for comprehensive straw utilization as required by the State Council and strengthen related technological research and application extension.

Fifth, publicity and coverage should be augmented. Local authorities should take various forms of publicity and education campaigns so that farmers can volunteer to give up burning straws. MEP will continue to have real-time monitoring on straw burning across the country and release the results every day on the website of China Environmental Hotline 12369 and China Environment News for public supervision and investigation.