Hong Kong CNN —For days, images of New York choking in smoke have stunned the United States, as residents struggle to deal with the unfamiliar challenge of severe air pollution.
That means its people are exposed to high levels of fine particulate matter, or PM2.5, a widely used indicator of harmful air pollution.
It culminated in the infamous 2013 “air-pocalypse,” when the air quality index hit 755, smashing what was supposed to be the top of the scale at 500, according to the US Embassy in Beijing that kept a daily air quality monitor.
In 2021, Beijing recorded its best monthly air quality since records began in 2013; photos now show mostly blue skies in the city.
It’s an encouraging sign, and evidence that the right policies and investment can help fix air quality.
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