Beijing, neighboring cities to synchronize anti-smog campaign

Air pollution forecasts for six cities in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region are likely to be taken as a whole when emergency responses are being considered, said a plan released on Monday.

According to a meeting attended by environment officials from Beijing, Baoding, Cangzhou, Langfang, Tangshan and Tianjin, consultation and synchronization will be tried among the six cities before being expanded to include the whole region.

The plan, currently out for public opinion, says all six cities should initiate the highest level of emergency measures when high pollution levels are forecast in at least four of the cities for the subsequent four days. Endi