Beijing's Economy: Stifled By Air Pollution

Beijing's air pollution is a result of its rapid industrialization, economic growth, and urbanization. The city's air quality has deteriorated due to various factors, including an increase in vehicles, population growth, manufacturing output, and coal-burning factories. Beijing's topography, with mountains surrounding the city, also traps pollution within its limits. The consequences of this pollution are severe, impacting the health and lifespan of its residents, as well as causing economic losses through flight cancellations and road closures. Beijing has recognized the urgency of the problem and implemented measures to improve air quality, including stricter emission standards, the promotion of sustainable mobility, and the development of cleaner energy sources. These efforts have shown positive results, with a significant decrease in pollution levels and an increase in life expectancy for residents.

Economic growth and environmental sustainability are at odds

Economic growth and environmental sustainability are often seen as opposing forces, and the relationship between the two has been a complex challenge for Beijing, the capital of the world's largest emerging economy. Beijing's rapid economic growth, increasing population, and surging number of vehicles have put immense pressure on the city's environment, particularly its air quality. The economic boom has resulted in a drastic rise in Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and individual wealth, which has been correlated with an increase in pollution. This is evident in the rise of motor vehicles on Beijing's roads, with vehicle emissions contributing to about 45% of the city's air pollution in 2018. The number of vehicles has doubled to 3.3 million, with nearly 1200 added each day, and newer vehicles tend to have higher emission standards, emitting more pollutants than older models.

Beijing's topography, with mountains to the north and west, traps pollutants from factories and coal-burning industries in the surrounding regions, exacerbating the city's air pollution. The city's rapid industrialization and urbanization have also led to a reliance on inefficient and polluting heavy industries, such as coal power, steel, and cement. This overreliance on investment in these sectors has resulted in overcapacity issues and further contributed to air pollution. Additionally, population growth in China and Beijing specifically has led to extensive pollution, with Beijing's population swelling from 11 million to 16 million in just seven years.

The Chinese government has recognized the seriousness of the air pollution problem and has taken measures to address it. In 2013, the State Council announced a RMB 1.7 trillion (GBP 189 billion) plan with 10 policy measures to tackle China's chronic air pollution crisis. Beijing's budget to fight air pollution increased significantly from 2013 to 2017, and by the end of 2017, cleaner air was visible, with a reduction in PM2.5 concentration and a decrease in the frequency and intensity of heavy pollution episodes. Beijing has also focused on urban rail expansion, aiming to transform itself from a car-centric metropolis by encouraging the use of bicycles and expanding its subway system.

While economic growth and environmental sustainability may seem at odds, Beijing's efforts demonstrate that they can coexist. By tackling air pollution head-on, the city showcases the synergy between sustainable transportation and economic prosperity. Beijing's journey towards sustainability involves curbing car-based greenhouse emissions and charting a path towards cleaner air. Initiatives like Low Emission Zones (LEZs) restrict access for polluting vehicles, driving the adoption of cleaner transportation options. Beijing's experience provides valuable lessons for policy makers globally, highlighting the importance of addressing human-induced factors such as the use of fossil fuels and the lack of environmental standards to improve air quality and promote sustainable economic development.

Air pollution is linked to health issues and lower life expectancy

Air pollution is a pressing issue that poses significant risks to human health and life expectancy. It refers to the presence of harmful contaminants in the atmosphere, such as dust, fumes, gases, and particulate matter, which can have detrimental effects on people's well-being. Beijing, in particular, has long struggled with air pollution due to a combination of topography, weather patterns, and the proximity of the city to polluting industries and traffic.

The health impacts of air pollution are far-reaching and affect people of all ages. Short-term exposure to polluted air can lead to respiratory infections, aggravated asthma, and other acute conditions. Meanwhile, long-term exposure is linked to an increased risk of stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer, and other serious illnesses. Children, the elderly, and pregnant women are especially vulnerable to the health effects of air pollution. The World Health Organization (WHO) has also found links between air pollution and adverse pregnancy outcomes, such as low birth weight, as well as other health issues like diabetes, cognitive impairment, and neurological diseases.

The social and economic implications of air pollution in Beijing are significant. The city's air pollution problem has impacted the lives of its 21 million residents, requiring the implementation of urgent measures to tackle the issue. The Beijing Municipal Government has taken steps to address air pollution, including publishing weekly air quality reports and setting targets to improve air quality. These measures aim to reduce emissions, encourage the use of cleaner fuels, and restore ecosystems to prevent dust pollution.

Air pollution has a direct impact on life expectancy, and the countries with the greatest losses in life expectancy due to air pollution tend to be those with high levels of particulate matter (PM2.5). While it is challenging to estimate the precise impact of air pollution on life expectancy, research suggests that it is a significant contributing factor to premature deaths worldwide. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), air pollution is currently the fourth leading cause of death globally, contributing to nearly 7 million deaths annually.

The efforts to combat air pollution in Beijing have been a challenging journey. While there have been some improvements, it remains uncertain whether China will fully address its air pollution problems. The success of these initiatives depends on a delicate balance between economic growth and the social and environmental well-being of its citizens.

Beijing's topography exacerbates pollution

Beijing's topography has a significant impact on the city's air pollution levels. The city is located in the northern part of the North China Plain and is surrounded by mountains on three sides—the Taihang Mountains to the west, and the Yanshan Mountains to the north and northeast. This unique topography has several effects on the local climate and pollution levels.

Firstly, the mountains produce anomalous southerly winds, high relative humidity, low boundary layer heights, and sinking motion over most of Beijing. These conditions are favourable for the formation and development of haze pollution in the city. The mountains also act as a barrier, trapping pollutants from factories and industrial areas to the south and east of Beijing. The combination of these factors results in a higher concentration of pollution in Beijing compared to other cities in the region.

Secondly, the significant altitude differences in both the west-east and north-south directions over very short horizontal distances contribute to the formation of haze pollution. This is because the mountains create a ""harbor" effect on the westerlies in the eastern lee of the Tibetan Plateau, influencing the regional distribution of haze frequency in eastern China, including Beijing.

Furthermore, Beijing's topography influences the occurrence and development of haze pollution downtown, as demonstrated by atmospheric chemistry simulations. These simulations showed that reducing terrain height in the southerly wind mode resulted in a more significant decrease in PM2.5 concentrations than in the northerly wind mode. This indicates that the city's topography plays a crucial role in the dispersion of pollutants and the formation of haze.

The impact of Beijing's topography on air pollution is exacerbated by other factors such as population growth, rapid urbanization, industrial development, and the increasing number of vehicles on the road. Beijing's population has rapidly increased, contributing to extensive pollution. The city has also undergone significant industrialization, with a rise in coal-burning factories located on its outskirts, which rely on outdated and inefficient technologies. These factors, combined with the city's unique topography, have resulted in Beijing suffering from severe haze or smog days, characterized by high particle mass concentrations and low visibility.

Vehicle emissions are a major contributor to air pollution

Beijing has been battling air pollution for over 20 years, and vehicle emissions are a significant contributor. The total number of vehicles in China reached 360 million in 2020, and the combustion of gasoline or diesel fuel in vehicle engines produces a variety of harmful chemical emissions. Vehicle emissions were responsible for about 45% of Beijing's air pollution in 2018, and the dense traffic conditions in the city make this worse. The slow development of transportation infrastructure in Beijing has hindered the mitigation of air pollution caused by vehicle emissions. The average velocity of vehicles on main roads during the daytime is below 20 kilometres per hour, worsening the emissions from slow traffic.

The combustion of gasoline or diesel fuel in vehicle engines produces harmful emissions such as CO, HC, NOx, and PM. These emissions are a major source of greenhouse gases and contribute to the formation of secondary pollution, such as photochemical smog, reduced visibility, and haze. The annual average concentration of NO2 in the troposphere over China was much higher than in the USA and most European countries in 2014.

Beijing has implemented measures to tackle vehicle emissions, such as enforcing the sixth stage of motor vehicle emissions standards in 2019, and launching urgent measures to tackle air pollution, including publishing weekly air quality reports. In 2008, the Olympic Games in Beijing led to the shutdown of many factories, industries, and manufacturing plants, as well as driving restrictions on millions of vehicles. City officials also converted coal furnaces in tens of thousands of homes to natural gas and relocated factories to other provinces.

The topography of Beijing, surrounded by mountains, traps pollution within the city limits. The confluence of topography, weather patterns, and the proximity of coal-burning industries to the south and east of Beijing exacerbate the city's air pollution. Beijing's air quality worsens in spring and summer when temperature and humidity levels rise, and winds carry pollutants from industrialised southern regions. The slow development of transportation infrastructure, particularly highways, has also hindered the mitigation of air pollution caused by vehicle emissions.

Beijing's economic growth has led to a surge in vehicles

Beijing's economic growth has been accompanied by a surge in vehicles on the roads, which has contributed significantly to the city's air pollution crisis. As the city's economy expanded, particularly in the 1990s, the number of cars on the roads soared to the one million mark, leading to headlines around the world about Beijing's impenetrable smog. This trend continued, and by 2020, the total number of vehicles in China reached 360 million, with vehicle emissions responsible for about 45% of Beijing's air pollution that year.

The rise in vehicle ownership is directly linked to Beijing's economic growth and the increasing wealth of its residents. As people's purchasing power increased, many switched from bicycles to cars, a shift that contributed to the deterioration in air quality. This trend was not limited to traditional fuel-based cars; the electric vehicle (EV) industry in China has also experienced rapid growth. China has become a world leader in both the production and adoption of EVs, with generous government subsidies, support for lithium batteries, and policies encouraging individuals to purchase EVs, such as waiving the requirement for car license plates for EV owners.

The total sales of automobiles, including electric vehicles, have consistently contributed to around 3.7% of China's GDP for the past five years. While the EV industry is still a relatively small share of China's total economy, it has become a significant driver of growth and a key emerging sector. The growth of the EV industry in China has been so rapid that in just two years, the number of EVs sold annually jumped from 1.3 million to 6.8 million, making China the world's largest market for EVs in 2022.

However, despite the positive environmental impact of the growing EV industry, the sheer number of vehicles on Beijing's roads remains a significant contributor to air pollution. To address this issue, the Beijing Municipal Government has implemented a range of measures, including scrapping old, polluting cars, increasing the frequency of inspections for vehicles, and tightening emission standards for diesel trucks. Additionally, efforts have been made to control the flow of truck traffic through the city by directing lorries to use beltways that bypass heavily populated areas.

Frequently asked questions