The Chinese government have announced a new round of measures to help improve the air quality in time for the Olympic games starting next week. Fortunately there have been some light showers in Beijing today, which should help clear the air a little.

In addition to the current odd and even system for vehicles, cars with the last digit in the number plate that is same as the date, won’t be allowed on roads. This should technically reduce the number of cars on the roads by 10 per cent.

In addition:

- production will be cut in 220 factories
- 105 electronic, chemical, furniture and construction material factories in Beijing would suspend production or the part of the production process that emits pollutants

China has announced a slew of emergency measures in and around Beijing in case air pollution remains poor during the Olympics, including taking more cars off the roads and slashing production at more than 220 factories.
The radical plan would be carried out if air quality was forecast to be short of acceptable standards for the upcoming 48 hours due to “extremely unfavourable weather conditions”, the Ministry of Environmental Protection said.
A sultry haze has shrouded Beijing for much of the last week, but officials have sought to ease worries, blaming it on an unusually long bout of hot, humid weather and say the combination is unlikely to be repeated during the Games.
The city’s chronic pollution, a source of respiratory illness, has been one of the biggest worries for Games organisers, who have had to deflect international criticism over air quality as they struggle to contain the environmental effects of China’s breakneck economic growth.
The government has already cleared about half the capital’s 3.3 million cars from its streets — by restricting vehicles with odd or even licence plate numbers on alternate days — and shuttered factories dozens of miles away.
But according to the latest plan, even more Beijingers could soon be forced to use public transport.
In addition to the odd-and-even number system, cars whose plate’s last digit matches the last number of the date would be banned under the contingency plan, the Ministry said in a statement on its website