Green Tomorrow

In an effort to clean up Beijing’s murky skies ahead of the Olympic Games, Chinese officials have decided to phase in a cleaner motor fuel – conforming to the Euro IV standard – over the next 2 months while keeping gasoline prices unmoved. Starting January 1, oil wholesalers and auto distributors will be required to sell gas and diesel that meets the elevated standard, which allows for only 50 ppm of sulfur; the current Euro III fuel permits 150 ppm but is cheaper – 0.4 yuan less per liter.

Environmental analysts estimate that the new standard will reduce the amount of sulfur dioxide generated by Beijing’s almost 3…