20% Consider Moving to Avoid Smog - Escape from Hong Kong
It's no secret that health and lifestyle concerns have jumped to the top of the list -- second to employment, of course -- when it comes to relocating these days. According to a survey conducted by Hong Kong think tank Civic Exchange, a city's air quality is rapidly becoming a make or break issue for a thriving metropolis. Their study found that 1 in 5 residents of Hong Kong had considered vacating the city simply because of its horrible air quality. Sure, plenty of people are talking tough, but would they really move just to escape the smog? According to the results, of the 1.4M Hong Kongers who have considered fleeing the aveoli-scorching air, about 500,000 said they are "seriously considering or already planning to move." Sure, metropolises like Mexico City or Beijing haven't suffered too much because of their air, but in the developed world (Hong Kong is still included in that right?) -- breathability is a new and important way for cities to compete for healthy, affluent, and educated professionals.
[via Treehugger]













