While China continues to fuel global growth by adding about 2 billion square metres of new buildings per year — the equivalent of building a second China in the next 20 years — Beijing recorded one of the blackest days in its history on 12 January 2013. Pollution indicators went off the charts with readings of more than 750 on that day, while the entire month averaged 190. To put things into perspective, the average air quality index of 16 major US airport smoking lounges averaged 167 in 2012, as reported in a study done by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). It is hard to believe, but living in Beijing was worse than living in a smoking lounge for the month of January.

According to most experts, air pollution during those January peaks indicated levels of toxic smog that were nearly 40 times higher than levels considered healthy by the