Beijing's environmental watchdog advised residents to use public transport and become "green" commuters when the air pollution enshrouding the capital city grows thick.

"Every day the citizens can get timely information on the air quality from the media. If the air pollution is serious, we suggest that they not drive and instead take public transportation," said Zhai Xiaohui, a spokesperson of the Beijing Environmental Protection Bureau (BEPB).

Although BEPB announced on Sunday that it had 238 days of good air quality so far this year, meeting the annual Blue Sky target, the city, which has pledged to hold a "green" Olympic Games in 2008, still has a long way to go in its fight against pollution.

"Beijing must contend with a large and diverse collection of pollutants despite its limited environmental capacity," said Du Shaozhong, deputy director of BEPB.

Du received the "Green Celebrity of the Year" award this year for starting the "Walking to Your Office" campaign in Beijing to lessen the city's traffic and pollution pressure.

"The capital still has a long way to go to reach the environmental standards of a life-friendly city and green Olympics," Du said, adding that it was not easy for Beijing to meet its Blue Sky target this year.

In the first four months of this year, heavy fog and serious sandstorms negatively affected the air quality, eating up 20 Blue Sky days.

This winter, many construction sites and heating system centers around Beijing contributed to the pollution.

"But thanks to more days of fine air quality in July and August, we eventually caught up with and could even surpass our pre-set plan," Du said.

He attributed the achievement to intensified efforts by environmental protection departments at various levels to reduce pollution from coal burning, industrial waste and auto exhaust.

(China Daily December 26, 2006)