Cleaning up Beijing for the Olympics Games, one of the world's worst polluted cities, was always going to be a herculean effort. In the last week before the games, authorities have seen the particulate matter content of the city's air yo-yo back and forth, from an optimistic clear sky on the weekend, to a return of heavy haze by the time of the opening ceremonies.

The IOC has been monitoring the situation and has been impressed with the lengths that the Beijing authorities have gone to ensure a safe games. UNEP has also been working with the Beijing Olympic Committee as noted in this IPS article. On the whole, despite the pollution caused by the heavy construction ahead of the games, the Olympics will be a net positive for China's environment, focusing attention on a grave problem.

The Asia Society has put together a slide show to highlight the problem of China's worsening air situation, and how China may try to correct this through a call for "scientific" development that finally recognizes the environmental impact of the country's rapid economic development.