The new heavy air pollution emergency response program introduced by the Beijing authorities will more effectively help curb the smog that plagues the capital.

Compared with the old version, which was adopted in October 2013, the new program, introduced on Monday, lowers the thresholds for issuing air pollution alerts, expands the emissions reduction measures and increases punishments for violators. According to the program, a red alert, the highest warning level, will be issued if there is continuous severe air pollution for 72 hours or longer, and corresponding emergency measures such as controlling the number of vehicles will be implemented. Primary and middle schools will suspend classes.

Due to their high thresholds before an alert was issued, the 2013 measures failed to reduce air pollution in Beijing. For example, the capital suffered heavy air pollution for seven consecutive days in the second half of February 2014, but no red alert was issued and no effective emergency measures were taken. This sparked public anger and calls for the authorities to put in place more effective emergency response measures.