Beijing Issues First Ever Pollution 'Red Alert' ...Schools are urged to stay closed and half of the city's vehicles are banned from the streets to help clear the smog.

Authorities blame heavy coal-burning in factories and vehicle emissions

Beijing has issued its first ever "red alert" for air pollution.

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Schools have been urged to close and half of the city's vehicles are to be kept off the roads as the dense smog is set to shroud parts of the Chinese capital until Thursday.

An online notice from the Beijing Municipal Environmental Protection Bureau on Monday said it issued the alert to "protect public health and reduce levels of heavy air pollution".

Authorities blame heavy coal-burning in factories and vehicle emissions for the increase in pollution.





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It says its emissions will peak by around 2030 before starting to decline.

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While emissions standards have been tightened and heavy investments made in solar, wind and other renewable energy, China still depends on coal for more than 60% of its power.

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