Kiera Jefferson
China is home to some of the world's most polluted cities and is the world's largest emitter of greenhouse gases. The government has declared a war on air pollution and has put in place a comprehensive program to tackle it. The Innovative Financing for Air Pollution Control Program has been supported by the World Bank and has helped China reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 2.5 million tons a year. The program has financed investments in energy efficiency, renewable energy, and emissions control.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Severe air pollution | Has serious adverse impacts on human health |
| Government action | Declared a war on air pollution and put in place a comprehensive government program to tackle it |
| Financing | The Innovative Financing for Air Pollution Control Program has supported China's efforts to mitigate climate change by reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 2.5 million tons a year |
| Energy efficiency | The program has financed investments in energy efficiency, renewable energy and emissions control |
| Green finance | Huaxia Bank has mainstreamed green finance in its corporate business development strategy |
What You'll Learn
Reducing carbon dioxide emissions
China is the world's largest emitter of greenhouse gases, with the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei (Jing-Jin-Ji) region experiencing particularly severe air pollution. The Chinese government has declared a war on air pollution and is working with the World Bank to reduce carbon dioxide emissions.
One way to reduce carbon dioxide emissions is to improve energy efficiency. This can be done by investing in renewable energy sources such as geothermal heating, which has zero carbon emissions, and by implementing energy-efficient practices in industries. The Innovative Financing for Air Pollution Control Program has financed 27 subprojects in the areas of energy efficiency, renewable energy, and emission control.
Another way to reduce carbon dioxide emissions is to expand the use of clean energy. This can be done by supporting the development and implementation of clean energy technologies, such as those that do not generate local air, water, and waste pollutants. The World Bank has been working closely with the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) and the National Energy Administration (NEA) in China to support the implementation of the government's Air Pollution Control Action Plan and the 13th Five-Year Plan (2016-2020) for energy efficiency and clean energy.
Additionally, green financing plays a crucial role in reducing carbon dioxide emissions. The World Bank-supported Innovative Financing for Air Pollution Control Program has leveraged funding 5.4 times the original loan amount, mainstreaming green finance at Huaxia Bank. Huaxia Bank has established a Green Finance Center and made green financing one of its key strategic business lines. The bank is expected to finance green investments of at least RMB 150 billion yuan (about $21.2 billion) by the end of the program's implementation.
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Improving energy efficiency
China has been working to improve its energy efficiency and reduce air pollution. The government has put in place a comprehensive programme to tackle air pollution, with a focus on improving energy efficiency and expanding clean energy.
The Innovative Financing for Air Pollution Control Program, supported by the World Bank, has financed investments in energy efficiency, renewable energy and emissions control. The program has leveraged funding 5.4 times the original loan amount, and supported China’s efforts to mitigate climate change by reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 2.5 million tons a year.
The Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei (Jing-Jin-Ji) region has experienced particularly severe air pollution, with an annual average fine particulate matter (PM2.5) concentration of 93 micrograms per cubic meter (μg/m3) in 2014, which far exceeded China’s national standard and the World Health Organization (WHO) standard.
To address this, the government has implemented the Innovative Financing for Air Pollution Control in Jing-Jin-Ji Program, which was the first operation to use the Program for Result (PforR) instrument in the energy sector in China. The program supports the implementation of the government’s Air Pollution Control Action Plan and the 13th Five-Year Plan (2016-2020) for energy efficiency and clean energy, with a focus on controlling air pollutants at their source.
One example of improving energy efficiency is the use of geothermal heating, which has zero carbon emissions and does not generate local air, water and waste pollutants. This is an effective way to reduce air pollution in the winter in the Jing-Jin-Ji region.
Kids' Role in Pollution: Small Actions, Big Impact
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Expanding clean energy
China has been working to reduce air pollution by expanding clean energy. The country has been supported by the World Bank's Innovative Financing for Air Pollution Control Program, which has provided funding for investments in energy efficiency, renewable energy and emissions control. The program has helped to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 2.5 million tons a year.
The Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei (Jing-Jin-Ji) region has been a particular focus for these efforts, as it experienced severe air pollution, with an annual average fine particulate matter (PM2.5) concentration of 93 micrograms per cubic meter (μg/m3) in 2014, far exceeding China's national standard and the World Health Organization's (WHO) guidelines.
To address this issue, the Chinese government has implemented a comprehensive program to tackle air pollution, including the Air Pollution Control Action Plan and the 13th Five-Year Plan (2016-2020). These plans focus on controlling air pollutants at their source by improving energy efficiency and expanding clean energy.
One example of expanding clean energy is the use of geothermal heating in the Jing-Jin-Ji region, which has zero carbon emissions and does not generate local air, water and waste pollutants. This has been effective in reducing winter air pollution in the region.
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Investing in renewable energy
China has been working to mitigate climate change and reduce air pollution by investing in renewable energy and energy efficiency. The Innovative Financing for Air Pollution Control Program, supported by the World Bank, has provided funding for 27 subprojects in the areas of energy efficiency, renewable energy, and emission control. The program has also helped to mainstream green finance at Huaxia Bank, which is expected to finance green investments of at least RMB 150 billion yuan (about $21.2 billion) by 2022.
The Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei (Jing-Jin-Ji) region has experienced particularly severe air pollution, with an annual average fine particulate matter (PM2.5) concentration of 93 micrograms per cubic meter (μg/m3) in 2014, far exceeding China’s national standard and the standard advised by the World Health Organization (WHO). To address this issue, the government of China has implemented a comprehensive program to tackle air pollution, including the Air Pollution Control Action Plan and the 13th Five-Year Plan (2016-2020) for energy efficiency and clean energy.
One example of a successful clean energy initiative is the switch to geothermal heating in the Jing-Jin-Ji region. Compared to coal heating boilers, geothermal heating has zero carbon emissions and does not generate local air, water, and waste pollutants, making it an effective solution for reducing winter air pollution in the region.
By investing in renewable energy and energy efficiency, China can continue to make significant strides in reducing air pollution and mitigating climate change. These efforts not only improve the health and well-being of its citizens but also contribute to global efforts to create a more sustainable future.
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Reducing air pollution in the winter
China has been working to reduce air pollution by investing in energy efficiency, renewable energy and emissions control. The World Bank has been working with the Chinese government to finance these projects, and has supported China in mitigating climate change by reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 2.5 million tons a year.
One of the most polluted regions in China is the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei (Jing-Jin-Ji) region, which has an annual average fine particulate matter (PM2.5) concentration of 93 micrograms per cubic meter (μg/m3). This exceeds the national standard and the standard advised by the World Health Organization (WHO).
To reduce air pollution in the winter, the Chinese government has been investing in geothermal heating. Compared to coal heating boilers, geothermal heating has zero carbon emissions and does not generate local air, water and waste pollutants.
The Innovative Financing for Air Pollution Control in Jing-Jin-Ji Program was the first operation to use the Program for Result (PforR) instrument in the energy sector in China. The program was designed to support the implementation of the government’s Air Pollution Control Action Plan and the 13th Five-Year Plan (2016-2020) for energy efficiency and clean energy, with a focus on controlling air pollutants at their source by improving energy efficiency and expanding clean energy.
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Frequently asked questions
You can help stop air pollution in China by supporting the Innovative Financing for Air Pollution Control Program, which is working to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 2.5 million tons a year.
The Innovative Financing for Air Pollution Control Program is a World Bank-supported initiative that finances investments in energy efficiency, renewable energy and emissions control. It has financed 27 subprojects in these areas, with a total investment of $1.3 billion to date.
The program provides loans to financial institutions, such as Huaxia Bank, which then finance green investments. The program has also helped to establish a Green Finance Center, which is expected to finance green investments of at least RMB 150 billion yuan (about $21.2 billion) by the end of 2022.
The program has helped to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 2.5 million tons a year, which is beneficial for mitigating climate change. It has also helped to mainstream green finance at Huaxia Bank, which is expected to become one of China’s leading financial institutions in this area.
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