Beijing wants burials to be green by 2020

In Beijing, where land is expensive and pollution a major concern, the government is encouraging families to embrace "green" burials such as burying a deceased loved one's ashes under a tree or in a flowerbed, or spreading them in at sea. 

The capital has plans to ensure that at least half of its deceased citizens have eco-friendly funerals by 2020 in an effort to conserve space and improve environment.

The goal was set on Tuesday by the Beijing civil affairs department, who asked all districts with cemeteries to build a green cemetery for demonstration purposes and advised them to transform traditional cemeteries into green ones.

Eco-friendly funerals are currently available at more than 30 cemeteries in Beijing.

In Babaoshan Revolutionary Cemetery, where many famous national figures are interred, an eco-friendly cemetery opened in August, and has received nearly 100 applications so far, according to authorities with the cemetery.

According to a report published in March by the Ministry of Civil Affairs, a majority of the public still lack awareness of environmental protection or frugality in terms of funerals, and are sticking to the traditional practice in which choosing elaborate graves for the deceased is a way of showing love and respect.
 Xinhua - globaltimes.cn
21/10/15
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