How to solve the persistent problem of noise pollution? Latest news: An action plan has been formulated, and the solution is a combination of firm and flexible measures.

Square dancing, residential renovations, nighttime construction... In recent years, noise has become one of the problems that plague the lives of many citizens.

Add image captions, no more than 140 characters (optional)

Yan Bo, director of the Shanghai Municipal Bureau of Ecology and Environment, said during a "2024 People's Livelihood Interview" on April 17 that the "Shanghai Noise Pollution Prevention and Control Action Plan (2024-2026)" formulated by multiple departments has been reviewed and approved by the municipal government. This is the first comprehensive document in the field of noise pollution prevention and control in Shanghai.

Yan Bo explained that among noise-related complaints, the largest number of complaints were about social noise, such as noise from square dancing and noise from renovations in residential areas, accounting for nearly 70% of the total number of related complaints; followed by construction noise, including nighttime construction and road construction, accounting for 25% of the total number of related complaints.

In terms of time of day, complaints about noise are higher at night than during the day. The "Shanghai Ecological Environment Status Bulletin 2022" shows that although monitoring data from the past five years indicates a general downward trend in environmental noise levels during both daytime and nighttime periods in Shanghai, and the average equivalent sound level of environmental noise at nighttime in the city was 46.8 decibels, a decrease of 0.9 decibels compared to 2021, it still falls short of the relevant standard requirement of below 45 decibels due to the large volume of traffic and social activities at night in a large city. This falls short of the public's higher expectations for a peaceful and harmonious environment.

Relying solely on rigid enforcement cannot completely and effectively control noise pollution. "Sometimes a combination of strict and flexible measures is needed, leveraging the power of grassroots governance," said Yan Bo. He added that relevant departments are preparing to introduce a flexible management mechanism for noise in public places, promoting social self-governance and co-governance through regulations and other means. For example, the management of square dancing in parks and green spaces will publicly disclose specific obligations, clarifying the responsibilities of activity managers and organizers, including: what equipment is allowed during activities, the decibel level of loudspeakers, and the installation of noise suppression and sound monitoring facilities.

The community should actively leverage the roles of the neighborhood committee, owners' committee, and property management company, taking the lead in identifying specific sources of noise pollution in the community: which households have recently renovated, which households have pets, which people like to sing and play music, where motor vehicles are parked in concentrated areas, which transformers and water pumps are aging, etc. After thoroughly understanding these issues, solutions should be developed and communicated to address them one by one.

"The rules can be implemented with a combination of persuasion and enforcement. If someone fails to comply with the rules, we should first try to dissuade and guide them. If they fail to comply more than three times, then we can take enforcement measures," Yan Bo said. He added that by combining flexible rules with rigid laws and regulations, they aim to reduce noise levels and increase the happiness index.

In addition, regarding the most frequent complaints about nighttime construction noise, Yan Bo stated that they will work with the construction department to ensure that the responsibilities of construction companies and contractors are fulfilled. Specifically, in the early stages of nighttime construction, construction companies will be required to arrange for technical projects or funding for noise reduction, ensure green construction, and strictly implement the responsibility for reporting and filing.

This article was written by Chen Xihan.

Image source: Shangguan News