Beijing, Tianjin, Inner Mongolia, Shandong, Hebei and Shanxi unite to curb pollution
Smoggy sunset over Beijing Image: Mike Behnken |
The six provinces will set up a formal platform to monitor vehicle emissions across their borders as pollution continues to worsen.
The watchdog will be the first inter-provincial collaboration of its kind in China and closely follows the "Beijing heavy pollution emergency plan", which will be fully realised in March this year.
According to the Beijing Municipal Environmental Protection Bureau, the group will issue warnings when pollution reaches dangerous levels and may even lower the safety thresholds.
Greater data sharing between the provinces will also lead to cross-border crackdowns on motor vehicles that fail to meet the required standards and will have the added benefit of reducing the number of illegal vehicles being transported between provinces.
The group's ultimate aim is to expand its remit nationwide and set a unified code of regional regulations and standards, as well as introducing spot checks on road vehicles and tougher regulation of off-highway equipment.