A leading Chinese scientist has pinned the blame for Beijing’s pollution on political stagnation and state-owned energy companies, amid a public outcry over the hazardous smog that blanketed Beijing last weekend.

Wang Yuesi, an atmospheric physicist who is a member of the government working group for haze reduction in Beijing and neighbouring Tianjin, says the immediate causes of the “frightening” pollution were coal burning, car emissions and a particular weather pattern that trapped the polluted air over the low-lying city.

But the root causes are much bigger, and harder to solve. “Only if reform of the political system is put on the agenda will the economic system and the [environmental] management system be able to catch up,” said Mr Wang. “China’s system doesn’t work well?.?.?.?Leaders only set their eyes on the economy.”