E

Beijing is to spend up to ＄20 billion to change the Chinese capital into a 21 st-century one for the 2008 Olympics. The government managed to host the 2008 Olympics. The general aim is for Beijing to have the same environmental standards as Paris, London or Washington by 2008. Hundreds of millions of dollars will be spent piping natural gas to the city’s homes and taking away dirty coal burning gradually while 60, 000 buses will be changed to liquefied gas. The money will also be used for relocating the polluting factories and building green belts. By 2008 around 90 percent of Beijing’s waste will be treated, compared to only 40 percent at present. Olympic officials have already announced that around 50 large projects are being dealt with to improve traffic congestion and cut down pollution, They include the construction of Beijing’s first light railway, a 40.5-kilometer line which is expected to be completed in 2005. Beijing, besides, plans to build an 82.25-kilometer-long subway to add to the existing 53 kilometers. Nine major roads will be rebuilt or widened. Beijing also plans to build a 70-meter-wide green belt among the waterways to protect the water quality as well as to increase the green areas.

The government will spend money piping natural gas to the city’s homes in order to ______.