China's Air Pollution: Strategies For A Sustainable Future

Air pollution has been a pressing issue in China, causing a public health crisis and an annual economic loss of $37 billion. However, China has made significant strides in combating this problem, becoming a leader in electric mobility and reducing air pollution. The country's efforts have resulted in notable improvements in air quality, with cities like Beijing and Shanghai experiencing a decrease in PM2.5 levels and an increase in life expectancy for their residents. To further enhance air quality, China has implemented various measures, including transitioning from coal to cleaner energy sources, promoting electric vehicles, and introducing aggressive afforestation programs. These actions not only benefit China but also contribute to global efforts in addressing climate change and air pollution.

Reforestation and afforestation programmes

China has implemented aggressive afforestation and reforestation programmes, such as the Great Green Wall, to combat air pollution. The Great Green Wall, also known as the Three-North Shelter Forest Program, is a series of human-planted windbreaking forest strips designed to hold back the expansion of the Gobi Desert and provide timber to the local population. The programme, which started in 1978, is expected to be completed around 2050. It will create a vast green barrier spanning approximately 4,828 kilometres long and up to 1,448 kilometres wide in certain regions, encompassing around 88 million acres of forests.

China has also invested in other reforestation initiatives, such as the Natural Forest Protection Project, the Grain for Green Program, and the South China Slopes Land Conversion Program, which aim to halt commercial logging, address soil erosion, and restore vegetation cover on steep slopes, respectively.

In addition to these large-scale efforts, China has also introduced programmes like the Ant-Forest Program, a mobile app that encourages eco-friendly actions through a rewards system. As users accumulate "green energy points" through actions like walking instead of driving, virtual trees are planted in the app. Once a certain threshold is reached, real trees are planted in degraded areas of China.

These reforestation and afforestation programmes have had a positive impact on China's air quality. Between 2001 and 2021, China experienced significant forest expansion, adding approximately 425,000 square kilometres to its forested areas, a 24% increase. This expansion has contributed to the country's fight against air pollution and has helped improve air quality for its citizens.

Reducing coal-fired power generation

China has made significant strides in reducing air pollution since 2008, with a particular focus on reducing coal-fired power generation.

To reduce coal-fired power generation, China has implemented a strategy of retiring old and less efficient coal units while maintaining zero net coal capacity growth. This involves shutting down and refitting power plants to reduce emissions. In addition, China has invested in upgrading and modernizing the steel industry to promote the development of more environmentally friendly equipment.

China has also taken steps to increase the use of electric vehicles and improve energy efficiency. Beijing, for example, now has over 6,500 electric buses, and the country leads the global market in electric mobility.

Despite these efforts, China continues to build new coal capacity for various reasons, including job creation, boosting local economies, and meeting heating demands. In 2023, China accounted for 95% of the world's new coal power construction activity, and the number of new-built coal-fired power plants increased from 78 in 2017 to 85 in 2019.

To further reduce coal-fired power generation, China can focus on several key areas:

• Carbon pricing and emissions trading: China has implemented a national emissions trading system (ETS) that includes over 2000 emitters in the power sector. The ETS provides economic incentives for power plants to reduce their emissions and can lead to lower emissions intensity.
• Regulatory measures: China can impose stricter controls on coal power projects and accelerate the transition to renewable energy sources. This includes setting more ambitious targets for reducing coal-fired power generation and enforcing regulations to ensure compliance.
• Technology choices: Coal plants can adopt multiple technologies to reduce emissions, such as biomass and coal co-firing (BE), carbon capture and storage (CCS), and increasing flexibility in coal power plants (Flex). These technologies can be adopted concurrently or sequentially to reduce emissions and natural retirement of coal plants.
• Energy mix diversification: China can further diversify its energy mix by investing in renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, and hydropower. This will reduce the country's reliance on coal-fired power generation and accelerate the transition to cleaner energy sources.
• Energy efficiency improvements: China can continue to improve energy efficiency in the power sector by implementing measures such as demand-side management, improving transmission and distribution infrastructure, and promoting the use of high-efficiency appliances.
• International cooperation: China can collaborate with other countries to share best practices and technologies for reducing coal-fired power generation. This includes participating in global initiatives such as the Powering Past Coal Alliance and the Global Renewables and Energy Efficiency Pledge.

By implementing these measures, China can accelerate the reduction of coal-fired power generation, lower emissions, and improve air quality for its citizens.

Scrapping highly-polluting vehicles

Overview

China has been battling severe air pollution for decades, with the problem worsening due to rapid economic growth and urbanisation. To address this issue, the Chinese government has implemented various measures, including the scrapping of highly-polluting vehicles. This initiative aims to reduce air pollution from motor vehicles, particularly those with high emissions of nitrogen oxides. By removing older, more polluting cars from the roads, China can make significant strides towards improving air quality and public health while also working towards its green targets.

The Problem of Air Pollution in China

Air pollution in China has been a persistent issue, largely due to the country's economic transformation and growth. The burning of coal, biomass, and waste, as well as emissions from vehicles, have contributed to dangerously high levels of pollutants in the air. The health impacts and loss of productivity due to air pollution have been significant, costing China approximately 6.5% of its GDP annually between 2000 and 2010. With an increasingly urbanised and productive population, the costs of inaction are expected to rise.

The Vehicle Scrapping Initiative

The Chinese government has recognised the urgency of the situation and has taken decisive action. In 2014, the government announced plans to scrap up to 6 million vehicles that did not meet emission standards by the end of that year. This move was part of a larger plan by the State Council to outline emission targets for various industries, acknowledging that previous pollution targets had not been met.

The vehicle scrapping initiative specifically targeted regions with high levels of air pollution, such as the northern provinces of China. Hebei province, known for its smoggy cities, was ordered to scrap 660,000 cars. Beijing and Shanghai also joined the effort, with plans to remove up to 333,000 and 160,000 vehicles, respectively. The following year, the initiative expanded to highly developed regions, including the Yangtze River Delta and the Pearl River Delta, with up to 5 million additional vehicles targeted for removal.

Impact and Benefits

By implementing this initiative, China expects to achieve multiple benefits. Firstly, removing older, highly-polluting vehicles will directly contribute to reducing air pollution, particularly the emissions of sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides. Secondly, it supports China's broader goals of reducing energy consumption and transitioning to cleaner forms of energy. Finally, it improves public health and increases life expectancy by reducing the harmful pollutants that contribute to respiratory and heart diseases.

Costs and Challenges

While the vehicle scrapping initiative holds great potential for improving air quality, it comes with significant costs. The one-off expense of removing these vehicles from the roads is estimated to be between $21 billion and $42 billion. However, when compared to the health costs associated with air pollution, which were approximately $535 billion in 2012, the investment in improving air quality and reducing emissions becomes a more economically viable option.

Reducing nitrogen oxide emissions

• Using new technologies to reduce emissions from nitrogenous fertiliser
• Improving energy efficiency in fertiliser manufacture
• Reducing overuse of nitrogen in field-level crop production
• Using advanced technologies to cut fertiliser-related emissions
• Reducing nitrogen fertiliser use through knowledge training
• Using nitrification inhibitors to reduce nitrous oxide emissions from livestock slurry
• Using nitrification inhibitors to reduce emissions from dairy cattle housing
• Using nitrification inhibitors to reduce emissions from pig and cattle farmyard manure

Reducing volatile organic compounds

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are a significant contributor to air pollution and the greenhouse effect. They are released into the atmosphere through human activities, such as the use of solvents in pesticides, fossil fuel evaporation, coal-fired power plants, vehicle emissions, industrial activities, and biomass/biofuel burning. As such, reducing VOC emissions is crucial for improving air quality and mitigating climate change. Here are some measures that can be implemented to reduce VOC emissions in China:

Pesticide Management:

China is the largest consumer of pesticides globally, and the production and application of pesticides release significant amounts of VOCs into the atmosphere. To reduce VOC emissions from this source, comprehensive measures should be implemented. This includes perfecting pesticide management policies, strict supervision of pesticide production and use, and strengthening pesticide reduction publicity. Additionally, farmers can be encouraged to adopt integrated pest management practices and use lower-VOC-emitting pesticides.

Industrial Solvent Use:

Industrial emissions are the main source of anthropogenic VOCs in China. Solvent use in various industrial processes, such as pesticide production and application, contributes significantly to VOC emissions. To reduce VOC emissions from industrial solvent use, China can promote the use of low-VOC or VOC-free solvents, improve solvent containment and recovery systems, and implement waste minimisation techniques. Additionally, the government can provide incentives for industries to adopt cleaner production technologies and improve their energy efficiency.

Vehicle Emissions:

The transportation sector is another significant contributor to VOC emissions. To reduce VOC emissions from vehicles, China can promote the use of electric vehicles, improve fuel efficiency standards, and enforce stricter emissions controls on diesel trucks and older, polluting cars. Additionally, China can continue to invest in public transportation and active transportation infrastructure, such as bike-sharing schemes and subway systems, to reduce the number of vehicles on the road.

Coal-fired Power Plants:

Coal combustion is a major source of VOC emissions. By transitioning away from coal and towards cleaner energy sources, such as natural gas, renewables, and nuclear power, China can significantly reduce VOC emissions. Additionally, China can implement best available control technologies and emissions standards for coal-fired power plants to minimise VOC releases until the transition to cleaner energy sources is complete.

Public Awareness and Education:

Raising public awareness about the harmful effects of VOCs and providing information on ways to reduce VOC emissions can empower individuals and communities to take action. This includes encouraging the use of VOC-free or low-VOC products, promoting sustainable agricultural practices, and educating about the proper use, storage, and disposal of chemicals and solvents.

Collaboration and Policy Implementation:

Effective collaboration between government, industries, and the public is essential for reducing VOC emissions. The Chinese government should continue to develop and implement policies that target VOC emissions, such as the recent VOC regulations that have shown positive results. Additionally, cross-sectoral collaboration can help identify sector-specific solutions and ensure the adoption of best practices.

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