Chinese Cities: Air Pollution Data Manipulation?

Air pollution is a significant issue in China, causing a substantial threat to public health and economic costs. While the Chinese government has made notable progress in recent years, with cities like Shenzhen reducing air pollution by around 50%, a study analyzing data from 2001 to 2010 suggests that approximately 50% of Chinese cities reported dubious PM10 pollution levels, indicating potential manipulation of self-reported air pollution data. This raises the question: do Chinese cities manipulate air pollution data, and if so, what impact does this have on addressing the country's air quality issues?

Data manipulation by Chinese cities

Air pollution is a significant problem in China, causing a substantial threat to public health and economic costs. While the Chinese government and various cities have made efforts to combat pollution, data manipulation by Chinese cities has been a cause for concern.

A study examining daily air pollution concentrations over the period 2001-2010 found evidence of data manipulation in self-reported data by Chinese cities. Approximately 50% of the cities reported questionable PM10 pollution levels, and suspicious data reporting tended to occur on days when anomalies were least detectable. This suggests that official daily air pollution data may not be reliable and that there is a culture of transparency in traditionally opaque China.

In the past, city and township-level officials were responsible for collecting pollution data, which provided an opportunity for them to manipulate the results. Since 2015, pollution data has been collected by provincial and national government, increasing the pressure on city officials to accurately report pollution levels. This change in data collection practices may help to reduce data manipulation by city officials.

While some Chinese cities, such as Shenzhen, have made notable progress in reducing air pollution, others have not. Some cities remain among the country's most polluted areas, and the problem of data manipulation by Chinese cities continues to be a concern. It is important for the Chinese government and city officials to work together to address air pollution and ensure that data is reported accurately and transparently to effectively tackle this issue.

The role of provincial and national governments in data collection

Since 2015, the Chinese government has taken a more active role in data collection for air pollution, with provincial and national governments now being responsible for gathering this data. This shift in responsibility has created more pressure on city officials to accurately report air quality readings and reduce pollution levels. The change in data collection methods has led to increased transparency and accountability, with cities now expected to name, shame, and punish polluters. This new system has helped foster a culture of transparency in a country that has traditionally been opaque about its data.

The involvement of higher levels of government in data collection is a direct response to the manipulation of air pollution data by city and township officials in the past. Previously, local officials were in charge of collecting pollution data, which provided them with opportunities to alter the results. A study that examined daily air pollution concentrations over the period 2001-2010 found evidence of data manipulation, with about 50% of cities reporting dubious PM10 pollution levels. The study also suggested that suspicious data reporting tended to occur on days when anomalies would be least detectable.

The Chinese government has recognized the serious social and economic problems caused by air pollution and has taken concrete steps to address them. Air pollution has led to significant economic costs, with a 2018 report estimating that China loses up to $38 billion in revenue annually due to early deaths and lost food production. Additionally, air pollution has caused public health issues, with a study by the Health Effects Institute finding that unhealthy levels of PM2.5 contributed to approximately 1.42 million premature deaths in China in 2019.

To combat these issues, the Chinese government has implemented various measures, including the retirement of older, less efficient coal plants and their replacement with ultra-supercritical facilities. The government has also encouraged the switch from coal to natural gas for power and heat, although supply issues have presented challenges in fully realizing this transition. Furthermore, China has invested heavily in electric vehicles, now having the most on its roads of any country. These efforts have yielded positive results, with a significant reduction in PM2.5 levels in many cities between 2013 and 2019.

Public health hazards and citizen protests

Air pollution in China has resulted in severe adverse health effects on its population. Studies have confirmed that exposure to air pollution increases health risks, including adverse cardiovascular, respiratory, and pulmonary outcomes. A study by the Health Effects Institute found that unhealthy levels of PM2.5 led to roughly 1.42 million premature deaths in China in 2019. Household air pollution from burning solid fuels resulted in an additional 363,000 deaths that year. The economic and social harms of air pollution arising from its negative effects on public health have been widely discussed, with the economy suffering an annual loss of $37 billion due to pollution-induced crop failure.

The health effects of air pollution vary across different regions of China. For instance, in Central and Western China, the longest duration of good air quality in spring and summer was positively associated with better health, while the mean Air Quality Index (AQI) in autumn and winter was inversely associated with health. The crude mean AQI is not an ideal indicator of the effects of air pollution on health, and so local air pollution must be characterized by taking into account multiple dimensions, including the duration and frequency of exposure.

The Chinese government has recognized the severity of the problem and has implemented various measures to improve air quality. In 2013, the government released the Air Pollution Action Plan, which helped the nation significantly improve its air quality between 2013 and 2017, reducing PM2.5 levels by 33% in Beijing and 15% in the Pearl River Delta. In 2018, China introduced its Three-year Action Plan for Winning the Blue Sky War, mandating an 18% reduction in PM2.5 levels in 231 cities that had not yet reached the government standard. Large cities like Shanghai, Shenzhen, and Guangzhou restricted the number of cars on the road and started introducing all-electric bus fleets. The government also introduced aggressive afforestation and reforestation programs, planting more than 35 billion trees across 12 provinces.

Despite these efforts, air pollution remains a significant concern for Chinese citizens, who have expressed frustration and anger over the public health hazard it poses. Citizens have engaged in peaceful protests, such as the silent protest in Chengdu in 2016, where masks were placed on statues, and the release of Chai Jing's documentary "Under the Dome" in 2015, which received up to 200 million hits on Chinese websites before being censored. The government has also faced criticism for its handling of protests, with reports of repression and censorship.

Economic costs of air pollution

Air pollution has severe economic costs for China, which are estimated to be around $900 billion a year, or 6.6% of its GDP. This is a significant burden on the economy, and it is a problem that affects the country's social and environmental well-being. The costs arise from the impact of air pollution on public health and reduced crop yields. For example, air pollution is linked to higher rates of asthma, diabetes, and chronic respiratory diseases, which can result in reduced ability to work and lower participation rates in the labor force. In addition, air pollution leads to early deaths, with an estimated 1.85 million deaths in China in 2018 alone, and it also destroys crops, with 20 million tonnes of rice, wheat, maize, and soybean lost in a year.

The trade-offs between economic growth and environmental protection are challenging, especially for developing countries like China. Rapid economic growth has lifted millions of people out of poverty, but it has also resulted in immense environmental degradation. The country's economic development has depended on industrial output, urbanization, and motorization, which have contributed to increased pollution levels. As a result, China has struggled to meet its global climate commitments and address its air pollution crisis.

To improve air quality, the Chinese government has set targets for reducing pollution. However, these targets are often less demanding than what is needed to achieve a healthy environment for citizens. For instance, the 2021 air quality targets were set higher than the 2020 average PM2.5 level, which eases the pressure on industries to reduce pollution. This decision was made to support China's economic recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic, but it delays progress in creating a healthier environment.

Furthermore, there is evidence to suggest that Chinese cities manipulate air pollution data. A study examining daily air pollution concentrations from 2001 to 2010 found that about 50% of cities reported dubious PM10 pollution levels, indicating data manipulation. This manipulation tends to occur on days when anomalies would be least detectable, further supporting the notion that official daily air pollution data is not reliable.

Efforts to reduce air pollution

China's efforts to reduce air pollution have had a significant impact on global warming, contributing to an increased warming rate of 0.05°C (0.09°F) per decade since 2010. This is due to the removal of sulphate aerosols, which previously cooled the planet by reflecting sunlight away from the Earth. While China's air pollution crackdown has led to an 80% increase in the rate of global warming, it is important to note that the country's rapid industrialization and economic progress caused severe air pollution, resulting in a public health crisis.

To combat this issue, China implemented the Air Pollution Action Plan in 2013, which included aggressive afforestation and reforestation programs, such as the Great Green Wall, and the planting of over 35 billion trees across 12 provinces. This plan also targeted PM2.5 level reductions in key cities like Beijing, where levels dropped by 33%. The second phase of China's battle against air pollution began in 2018 with the introduction of the Three-year Action Plan for Winning the Blue Sky War, which focused on reducing ground-level ozone pollution.

In addition to these national plans, China has also received international support to combat air pollution. The World Bank, the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), and the Global Environmental Facility (GEF) have provided financing and grants to promote clean energy and reduce carbon emissions. This includes supporting the Huaxia Bank in providing financing for enterprises to increase energy efficiency, invest in clean energy, and tighten air pollution controls. These efforts have resulted in a reduction of 2.5 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions annually.

Furthermore, China has made efforts to reduce coal consumption by improving energy efficiency in the industrial and building sectors and expanding clean energy vehicles. For example, the country has installed equipment to remove particulate matter, implemented flue gas desulfurization, and replaced coal with natural gas. These measures have contributed to significant improvements in air quality between 2013 and 2017, with PM2.5 levels dropping by 15% in the Pearl River Delta.

Frequently asked questions