For the first time, Beijing issued a red alert on Monday warning people of severe smog in the coming days. This is also the first such red alert nationwide, and the capital has set a good example in this respect.

The action the municipal government has taken deserves to be applauded as it shows the authorities have listened to residents' concerns.

The local government was heavily criticized for not issuing such an alert during the severe smog a week ago, when particulate matter with a diameter of less than 2.5 microns reached more than 1,000 micrograms per cubic meter in some parts of the city.