Beijing's Battle Against Pollution: Strategies And Challenges

Beijing has been taking steps to combat air pollution since 1998, when the Beijing Municipal Government published the first local government declaration in China on air pollution control. Since then, the city has implemented a series of measures, including tightening vehicle emission standards, restricting coal-fired boilers, and increasing green spaces. In 2013, Beijing made air quality-related information public and increased financial investment in air pollution control. While air pollution remains a challenge, with levels still exceeding WHO guidelines, Beijing's efforts have resulted in significant improvements in air quality over the years, and the city continues to work towards reducing pollution and improving public health.

Beijing's shift from bicycles to cars

Beijing has undergone a significant shift in its transportation landscape over the last few decades, transitioning from a bicycle-oriented city to one dominated by automobiles. This transformation has had a profound impact on the city's efforts to tackle air pollution.

In the 1980s and 1990s, Beijing's streets were filled with bicycles, with up to 76% of road space taken up by these two-wheeled vehicles. The city was known as the "Kingdom of the Bicycle", with bicycles being the primary mode of transportation for people of all ages. However, as China's economy grew, so did its citizens' wealth, leading to a rapid increase in car ownership. This shift from bicycles to cars contributed to a deterioration in Beijing's air quality.

By the early 2000s, pollution gases such as carbon monoxide, sulphur dioxide, and particulate matter were on the rise in Beijing. The city's growing car ownership played a significant role in this problem. As a result, the Beijing Municipal Government sprang into action, implementing a range of urgent measures to tackle air pollution. These measures included legislation, enforcement mechanisms, systematic planning, and strict local standards, targeting various sources of pollution, including the transport sector.

To address the issue of car emissions, Beijing introduced low emission zones, restricted the use of high-emission vehicles, and tightened standards on emissions from diesel trucks. The city also encouraged the use of electric vehicles, with Shenzhen leading the way by electrifying all of its public buses. Beijing also reintroduced bike-sharing schemes and improved its public transportation system, aiming to reduce car usage and promote more sustainable modes of transportation.

While Beijing's efforts to tackle air pollution have shown some positive results, the city continues to face challenges. The health sector plays a crucial role in driving these initiatives, with research highlighting the impact of air pollution on respiratory health and the need to control vehicle emissions. Beijing's experience serves as a reminder of the complex interplay between economic development, transportation choices, and environmental consequences, shaping the health and well-being of its citizens.

The role of electric vehicles

Beijing has been at the forefront of China's efforts to tackle air pollution. Since 1998, the Beijing Municipal Government has implemented various measures to combat air pollution, including tightening standards on emissions and restricting the use of high-emission vehicles.

The Chinese government has set ambitious goals for EV deployment, targeting five million EVs on the road by 2020 and over 80 million by 2030. To support this goal, the government is committed to ensuring the availability of charging infrastructure. While there are challenges, such as the development of affordable and accessible charging stations, the government plans to install thousands of fast-charging stations and millions of charging units in parking lots, apartment buildings, and office complexes.

The impact of electric vehicles on air quality has been studied extensively in Beijing. Research has shown that replacing gasoline vehicles with electric vehicles can significantly reduce emissions, with monthly reductions ranging from 8.72 to 85.71 kg of CO2 per vehicle. Advanced BEVs, with higher efficiency and newer technology, exhibit even greater emission reduction benefits. However, it is important to consider the full life cycle of EVs, as the production and recycling of batteries can impact their overall environmental impact.

Overall, the role of electric vehicles in Beijing's fight against air pollution has been crucial. By increasing the adoption of electric vehicles, the city has reduced emissions, improved air quality, and contributed to the country's goal of decarbonizing the transportation sector. The continued development and deployment of electric vehicles will be essential in Beijing's ongoing efforts to create a cleaner and healthier environment for its residents.

Reducing coal consumption

China is the world's largest consumer and producer of coal. In 2021, its coal consumption and production accounted for more than half of the world's total. As such, the Chinese government has ambitious plans to reduce coal consumption in the coming decades.

In 2024, China began constructing approximately 94.5 gigawatts (GW) of new coal-fired power capacity, marking the highest annual addition since 2015. However, this has been framed by analysts as a backup capacity intended to stabilize the grid and ensure supply reliability as more intermittent renewable energy sources become dominant.

China has pledged to peak coal consumption by 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2060. To this end, a nationwide effort has been made to reduce overcapacity, resulting in the closure of many small and highly polluting coal mines. Provinces such as Shaanxi, Inner Mongolia, and Shanxi have implemented administrative caps on coal output, which caused temporary electricity outages in some areas.

In Beijing specifically, the municipal government has taken several measures to reduce coal consumption and tackle air pollution. In 2019, the last four coal-fired power and heating plants within the municipal area were replaced with gas-fired power plants. Additionally, the government has focused on limiting the use of coal-fired boilers, providing cleaner fuels for residential use, and restructuring industries to reduce emissions.

To promote the use of cleaner energy sources, Beijing has embraced electrification. Shenzhen, a city in China, has become the first in the world to electrify all of its public buses, with other cities like Shanghai and Hangzhou following suit. China now owns 99% of the world's 385,000 electric buses, and this number is expected to increase to 600,000 by 2025.

While China continues to face challenges in reducing its coal consumption, the long-term impact of its energy transition policies is projected to decrease coal usage significantly.

Health sector involvement

Beijing has made significant strides in combating air pollution, and the health sector has played a pivotal role in this journey. The health sector's involvement has been marked by contributions to environmental health surveillance, risk assessment, and policy formulation.

One of the earliest instances of the health sector's involvement dates back to 2007 when the Beijing government consulted with public health researchers. These researchers were tasked with collecting and analyzing evidence on the health impact of air pollution from various sources. Their findings revealed consistent evidence of NOx's detrimental effects on the respiratory system. Consequently, they recommended that controlling vehicle emissions could be a pivotal measure to mitigate the risk of respiratory diseases. This research laid the groundwork for subsequent air pollution control strategies.

The health sector's efforts intensified in 2012, when evidence emerged from the sector estimating the number of premature deaths attributable to air pollution. This sparked serious concern among the public and prompted the city to develop another historic action plan. As a result, Beijing announced a five-year action plan in September 2013, acknowledging the severity of air pollution and its impact on public health. The plan aimed to safeguard people's health and promote sustainable growth by tightening emissions standards and closing enforcement loopholes.

The health sector has also played a crucial role in raising awareness about the negative health consequences of air pollution. Since 2013, Beijing has made air quality-related information publicly available, including real-time concentrations of major pollutants, an air quality index, and tailored health advice based on pollution levels. This information has been particularly important for vulnerable groups such as children and individuals with pre-existing health conditions.

Furthermore, the health sector has continued to contribute to Beijing's efforts to combat climate change and air pollution. Starting from 2020, the health sector has invested in environmental health surveillance and risk assessment. This new phase of air pollution co-management aims to push for stricter and health-sensitive limits for air pollutants. By refining the design of city development strategies, Beijing strives to make them more environmentally conscious and considerate of public health.

Overall, the health sector has been instrumental in driving Beijing's progress towards cleaner air and mitigating the adverse health effects of air pollution. Their research, surveillance, and policy contributions have shaped the city's strategies and raised public awareness about the importance of clean air for health.

Beijing's air quality monitoring network

Beijing has made significant strides in addressing its air pollution problem, and its air quality monitoring network has played a crucial role in this endeavour.

The Beijing Municipal Government has been at the forefront of these efforts, recognising the urgency of the situation and implementing a range of measures to tackle air pollution sources. One of the critical steps taken was the establishment and enhancement of Beijing's air quality monitoring network, which has provided valuable data for decision-making.

The data collected by the monitoring network has guided policy formulation and the implementation of concrete measures to improve air quality. For example, the network's data revealed the impact of specific pollutants, such as NOx, on the respiratory system, leading to the tightening of vehicle emission standards and the establishment of low-emission zones. The network's data also highlighted the need to phase out high-pollution vehicles, retrofit and transition power plants, and renovate or replace coal-fired boilers.

The success of Beijing's air quality monitoring network is evident in the city's improved air quality over the past decade. Between 2013 and 2022, Beijing witnessed significant decreases in the annual average concentrations of major air pollutants, with PM2.5 levels dropping by 66.5%, SO2 by 88.7%, NO2 by 58.9%, and PM10 by 50%. As a result, millions of residents in Beijing are now breathing cleaner air, and the city continues to strive for further improvements in air quality and public health.

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