Beijing's War On Air Pollution: Strategies And Successes

Beijing has been battling air pollution for decades, and in recent years, the city has made significant strides in improving its air quality. Since 2013, Beijing has reduced its pollution levels by up to 89%, serving as a model for other cities facing similar challenges. Beijing's success is attributed to a series of comprehensive air pollution control programs that targeted different sources of pollution, including vehicle emissions, coal combustion, and construction. The city also embraced electric mobility, with a focus on expanding its urban rail network and reintroducing bike-sharing schemes. Collaborative planning with surrounding regions and increased financial investment in pollution control efforts further contributed to Beijing's success in tackling air pollution.

Beijing's air pollution control programme

1998-2011: Foundation and Early Efforts

The Beijing Municipal Government published the first local government declaration in China on air pollution control in 1998, recognising the serious air pollution the city faced due to rapid economic and social development. This laid the foundation for future efforts. During this period, the government established thorough air pollution control legislation, enforcement mechanisms, and implemented hundreds of concrete measures.

2008: Olympic Games and Intense Measures

With the world's eyes on Beijing for the 2008 Olympic Games, the city implemented more intense measures to improve air quality. This included a focus on controlling vehicle emissions, establishing low-emission zones, and restricting high-emission vehicles and trucks.

2013-2017: Beijing Clean Air Action Plan

In 2013, Beijing launched a multiyear, $100 billion effort to clean its air, termed a "war against air pollution." This phase focused on controlling PM2.5 pollution to protect public health and included stricter limits, a residential coal ban, and an advanced air quality monitoring system. Five adjoining provinces collaborated to reduce ambient pollution, resulting in significant reductions in sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxide, volatile organic compounds, and PM2.5 levels.

Promoting Sustainable Mobility

Beijing has actively shifted from a car-centric metropolis to a leader in sustainable mobility. The city has encouraged the use of bicycles through bike-sharing schemes and expanded its urban rail and subway systems. This has helped reduce vehicle emissions and improved air quality for its citizens.

Clampdown on Industrial Pollution

Beijing has also targeted industrial sources of pollution. The authorities have enforced stricter emission standards for diesel trucks, ordered lorries to bypass heavily populated areas, and clamped down on factories, forcing old vehicles off the road.

Electric Mobility and Energy Transition

Beijing has embraced electric mobility, with a focus on electrifying public transportation. This aligns with China's broader transition from coal to natural gas, reducing coal combustion and improving air quality.

Through these multifaceted and collaborative efforts, Beijing has successfully reduced air pollution levels, serving as a model for other cities facing similar challenges.

Reducing vehicle emissions

Beijing has implemented a series of measures to reduce vehicle emissions and improve air quality for its citizens.

One key strategy has been the introduction of electric vehicles. Beijing has electric buses, and the Chinese government is encouraging the wider adoption of electric cars, with policies such as "travel right restriction" and "ownership restriction" not applying to electric vehicles. This push for electric mobility is expected to reduce total emissions from vehicles by 20-41% by the end of the 14th Five-Year Plan period.

Another approach has been to phase out old, polluting vehicles. Beijing has removed 2.95 million old vehicles from the roads, and increased the frequency of inspections for those that remain. The city has also tightened standards on emissions from diesel trucks and implemented a coal-to-gas policy, reducing coal combustion by 11 million tonnes by 2017.

In addition to these measures, Beijing has also focused on controlling the flow of traffic through the city. Lorries are ordered to use beltways to bypass heavily populated areas, and the city has also expanded its public transportation network. The subway system now has roughly 700 kilometres of the network, and bike-sharing schemes have been reintroduced to reduce car usage for shorter trips.

These measures have contributed to a significant reduction in air pollution in Beijing, with levels of fine particle pollution cut by 64% and sulphur dioxide by 89% since 2013.

Regional cooperation

Beijing has successfully reduced fine particle pollution and improved its air quality in recent years, despite a tripling of vehicle numbers. This has been achieved through a series of comprehensive air pollution control programs targeting different sources of pollution, including vehicle emissions.

The city's success was not limited to its boundaries. Beijing actively coordinated air pollution control measures with surrounding areas, such as the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei (BTH) region. Collaborative planning, unified standards, joint emergency responses, and information sharing significantly improved the air quality in this broader region. The annual average PM2.5 concentrations in these areas decreased by nearly 25% during 2013-2017, which is likely to result in an increase in life expectancy for locals.

The Air Pollution Prevention and Control Action Plan, the most stringent air pollution plan to date in China, set nation-wide sub-goals for 2012-2017, with a priority on the BTH region. The BTH region was the focus of integrated regional prevention and control of air pollution in the years leading up to the 2008 Olympic Games, which saw a decrease in air pollution to the lowest level in the month before and during the games.

Long-term adherence to strict emission reduction policies has led to a 54% decrease in PM2.5 concentrations in Beijing from 2012 to 2020. The combination of inspiring but aggressive short-term measures and effective but durable long-term policies delivers sustainable air quality improvement.

Financial investment

Beijing's air pollution crisis was caused by a combination of factors, including vehicle emissions, coal combustion, construction, and household fuel burning. The Chinese capital has made significant strides in addressing this issue, reducing fine particle pollution by 64% and sulphur dioxide by 89% since 2013. This has been achieved through a series of comprehensive control programs and dynamic strategies, including financial investments, that target different sources of pollution.

The Beijing government has also invested in public education to promote behavioural and lifestyle changes that support clean air actions. This has empowered the public to adapt to and advocate for change. Additionally, Beijing has directed resources towards establishing and enhancing its air quality monitoring network, making the data publicly available. This open sharing of information has enabled health impact analyses and helped identify key areas for action.

The proportion of financial input for environmental protection in Beijing's GDP increased from 0.25% in 2006 to 1.3% in 2015, with expectations to reach over 2.5% in 2020. This increasing trend in financial investment reflects the government's commitment to improving air quality and addressing the health impacts of air pollution.

Looking forward, Beijing is stepping into a new phase of climate change co-management, focusing on carbon-peak and carbon-neutrality alongside air pollution control. The health sector continues to play a vital role by investing in environmental health surveillance and risk assessment. Beijing's experience demonstrates that financial investment in sustainable infrastructure is key to financial resilience in a changing climate.

Health impact

Beijing's air pollution has had a significant impact on the health of its residents, with the media and public expressing serious health concerns. Research has shown a link between air pollution and adverse effects on physical health, with consistent evidence of NOx's impact on the respiratory system. Vulnerable populations, including children, the elderly, and those with pre-existing heart and respiratory conditions, are particularly susceptible to the health risks associated with air pollution. During periods of heavy PM2.5 pollution, these individuals are advised to reduce their outdoor activities to prevent aggravating their symptoms.

The health sector has played a crucial role in Beijing's efforts to tackle air pollution. In 2007, the Beijing government consulted with public health researchers to study the health impact of air pollution. This research informed the government's strategies, emphasizing the importance of controlling vehicle emissions to mitigate the risk of respiratory diseases. Beijing has since implemented a series of emission standards and control measures, such as establishing low-emission zones and restricting high-emission vehicles, to address this issue.

The impact of air pollution on mental health is another area of concern. While fewer studies have focused on this aspect, air pollution has been linked to potential mental health risks. The World Health Organization (WHO) defines health as encompassing physical, mental, and social well-being, highlighting the need to consider the comprehensive effects of air pollution on overall health.

The improvement in Beijing's air quality has had positive health consequences for its residents. The reduction in PM2.5 levels is expected to result in an increase in life expectancy for locals, with research suggesting a potential gain of 4.6 years. This improvement in air quality has been attributed to Beijing's comprehensive air pollution control programs, collaborative planning with surrounding regions, and the shift towards sustainable transportation solutions.

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