Beijing’s mayor urges "all-out effort" to curb air pollution

Beijing's mayor pledged on Thursday to cut coal use by 2.6 million tonnes and set aside 15 billion yuan ($2.4 billion) to improve air quality this year as part of the city's "all-out effort" to tackle air pollution, state news agency Xinhua said. The announcement by Wang Anshun came as the capital was blanketed in its worst smog in months. A level above 300 is considered hazardous, while the World Health Organisation recommends a daily level of no more than 20. Coal-burning boilers inside Beijing's fifth ring road – covering the built-up area of the city – will be eliminated and measures taken against coal burning in the capital's periphery, Xinhua quoted Wang as saying.