China's Air Pollution: Recovery Timeline And Future Prospects

China's air pollution problem is a well-known and long-standing issue, with the country ranking as the 11th dirtiest in the world in 2019. The main sources of air pollution in China include industry, transportation, coal power plants, and household fuel usage. In recent years, China has made significant progress in reducing air pollution, with levels of PM2.5—the most harmful type of air pollutant—dropping by 50% between 2013 and 2019. This improvement continued during the COVID-19 era, with Beijing experiencing its lowest PM2.5 reading in August 2019. However, in 2023, PM2.5 levels rebounded for the first time in a decade, and China's coal production and imports also surged, contributing to air pollution. While China has implemented policies and invested financially to combat pollution, it is clear that there is still a long way to go to ensure consistently clean air and protect the health of its citizens.

The impact of air pollution on health

Air pollution is the presence of one or more contaminants in the atmosphere, such as dust, fumes, gas, mist, odour, smoke, or vapour, in quantities and durations that can be harmful to human health. The main pathway of exposure from air pollution is through the respiratory tract. Air pollution can also enter the bloodstream through the lungs and circulate throughout the body, causing systemic inflammation and carcinogenicity. Nearly every organ in the body can be impacted by air pollution.

In China, air pollution is a major problem and poses a significant threat to public health. China is the world's most populous country, with a 2019 population of approximately 1.4 billion people. In the same year, China ranked as the 11th dirtiest country globally, with a US AQI (Air Quality Index) figure of 110. The concentration level of the PM2.5 pollutant was three times the World Health Organization's (WHO) recommended levels. Beijing residents experienced "Moderate" levels of pollution for just two months in 2019—August and September. For the remaining ten months, they breathed air classified as "Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups."

The primary sources of air pollution in China include the combustion of coal, fossil fuels burned in vehicle engines, and general biomass combustion. Emissions from power stations are considerably higher than those recorded in other industrialised countries due to the lack of filtration systems. However, China has made significant progress in reducing air pollution. Between 2013 and 2017, PM2.5 levels were reduced by 33% in at least 74 cities, and they continued to decrease in subsequent years. The Chinese government has actively promoted the transition from coal to natural gas for power and encouraged the use of electric vehicles.

The health impacts of air pollution are extensive. Short-term exposure to air pollutants can lead to reduced lung function, respiratory infections, and aggravated asthma. Long-term exposure increases the risk of non-communicable diseases such as stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and cancer. Air pollution is also associated with oxidative stress, inflammation, immunosuppression, and mutagenicity in cells, impacting various organs, including the lungs, heart, and brain. Maternal exposure to air pollution is linked to adverse birth outcomes, such as low birth weight, pre-term birth, and small gestational age births. Additionally, socioeconomic factors, such as poverty and racial discrimination, can amplify the harmful effects of air pollution.

Overall, air pollution in China has had a significant impact on public health, contributing to approximately 2 million deaths per year. While China has made notable progress in improving air quality, continued efforts are necessary to reduce the health risks associated with air pollution and protect the well-being of its vast population.

The Chinese government's anti-pollution efforts

The Chinese government has made concerted efforts to combat air pollution and improve the ecological environment, with a particular focus on reducing PM2.5 particulate matter, which is deemed the most harmful. In 2013, the government launched an anti-pollution campaign that led to a 50% reduction in PM2.5 concentrations by 2019. This trend continued during the Covid era, with further improvements in air quality.

The government has encouraged a shift from coal to natural gas as an energy source for both homes and industries. China has also invested heavily in combating pollution, with over $277 billion pledged by the Academy for Environmental Planning in 2013. This includes financing innovative business models for renewable energy sources like solar PV and supporting enterprises in reducing air pollutants and increasing energy efficiency through the Innovative Financing for Air Pollution Control Program.

The government has also addressed the issue of factory emissions, which were previously released without filtration systems. Now, more factories are required to retrofit flue-gas desulphurisation technology to remove harmful sulphur dioxide (SO2) from their emissions. Additionally, China has the most electric vehicles on its roads compared to any other country, helping to reduce vehicle engine emissions.

Despite these efforts, China still faces challenges in its battle against air pollution. After a decade of decline since 2013, overall PM2.5 levels rebounded in 2023, increasing in 80% of provincial capitals. This rise in PM2.5 levels was accompanied by an increase in other pollutants, such as ozone (O3), which can exacerbate respiratory conditions and increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases. China's escalating reliance on fossil fuels, particularly coal, continues to significantly contribute to air pollution.

China aims to effectively eliminate severe air pollution by the end of 2025, according to a senior environment official. This includes improving air quality forecasting and early warning systems, enhancing coordinated management of PM2.5 and ozone pollution, and introducing new emission standards that align with global best practices.

The role of coal and fossil fuels

China's air pollution is a significant issue that poses a grave threat to public health. The country's abundant coal resources have long been viewed as a strategic energy source to avoid dependence on foreign suppliers. However, burning coal and other fossil fuels is a dominant source of indoor and outdoor air pollution in China.

Coal combustion is a primary contributor to particulate matter, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen dioxide emissions. In 2019, China ranked as the 11th dirtiest country globally, with Beijing residents experiencing "unhealthy" air quality for ten months. The same year, ambient PM2.5 pollution caused approximately 1.4 million premature deaths in China.

China is the world's largest coal consumer, and its emissions of greenhouse gases rose sharply in 2021, accelerating at the fastest pace in a decade. China's coal consumption produces more carbon emissions annually than the total energy-related emissions in the United States. In 2023, China's coal production and imports surged, reversing the declining trend in its energy mix, with coal accounting for 60% of its energy sources.

China has taken some steps to address air pollution by encouraging the transition from coal to natural gas and promoting the use of electric vehicles. The country's gas consumption has increased significantly, and it is considered a "clean energy" source. However, China's overall fossil fuel demand is projected to peak in 2024 and then decline, with anticipated rapid drops in coal use.

In conclusion, coal and fossil fuels have played a significant role in China's air pollution crisis. While the country has made some progress in reducing emissions and improving air quality, coal remains a critical energy source, and air pollution continues to adversely affect public health. China's ability to balance its energy security concerns with the urgent need to reduce coal combustion will be crucial in tackling climate change and improving air quality in the coming years.

The impact of the Beijing Olympics

Air pollution is a major problem in China and has been for many years. It poses a huge threat to public health and the economy, and affects people's quality of life. In 2019, China ranked as the 11th dirtiest country in the world. The concentration level of the PM2.5 pollutant was three times above the World Health Organisation's (WHO) recommended levels. Beijing residents experienced "Moderate" levels of pollution for just two months in 2019, August and September. For the remaining ten months, they experienced air quality that was classified as "Unhealthy for Sensitive groups".

The Chinese government has been implementing environmental interventions to improve air quality. In 2008, Beijing hosted the Summer Olympics, and the government took specific measures to improve the air quality in preparation for the Games. These included shutting down some chemical and cement factories near Beijing and, for several weeks before, during, and after the Games, taking half of the city's cars off the roads each day. The government spent US$10 billion on these measures and brought air pollution in Beijing down by 29.6% during the Games compared to the previous year.

However, the improvements in air quality achieved during the 2008 Olympics were not sustained. In the following years, air pollution continued to worsen, peaking in 2013. The average PM2.5 levels in Beijing in 2013 were 85 μg/m3, almost 2.4 times the applicable national standard and 17 times the WHO guideline.

In 2022, Beijing hosted the Winter Olympics, and once again, measures were taken to improve the air quality during the Games. The nearby city of Tangshan, China's biggest steel manufacturing centre, cut back on production from August 2021 until the conclusion of the Games, with some firms simply shut down. During the 2022 Winter Olympics, PM2.5 and PM10 concentrations varied widely without substantial peaks, and the daily average maximum values were 65.56% and 69.79% lower than those of the previous year.

While the measures taken for the 2022 Winter Olympics were successful in temporarily improving air quality, it is unclear if these improvements will be sustained. One report suggests that the decrease in Beijing's PM2.5 figure in 2021 may only be due to the measures taken for the Winter Olympics. China's escalating reliance on fossil fuels continues to contribute significantly to air pollution.

Despite the challenges, China has made progress in reducing air pollution in recent years. Between 2013 and 2017, the levels of PM2.5 were reduced by 33% in at least 74 cities, and by a further 10% the following year. Beijing has also undertaken 14 phases of comprehensive air pollution control programs since 1998. The Chinese government is investing heavily to combat pollution, with over $277 billion pledged by the Academy for Environmental Planning in 2013.

Water pollution and its effects

China's rapid economic growth, industrialization, and urbanization, coupled with insufficient investment in basic water supply and treatment infrastructure, have resulted in widespread water pollution. This has led to a situation where the water people drink is as dangerous as the heavily polluted air they breathe.

In 2015, Shanghai's water pollution crisis continued unabated, with 85% of the water in the city's major rivers being undrinkable, and 56.4% unfit for any purpose. The following year, Beijing's water situation was equally dire, with 39.9% of water so polluted that it was functionless. Tianjin, a northern Chinese port city home to 15 million people, had only 4.9% of usable water as a drinking source.

The problem is exacerbated by local governments' failure to curb polluting industries. In 2011, Luliang Chemical Industry in Yunnan province was found to have disposed of 5,000 tons of chemical waste near a river used for drinking water. By 2015, China discharged 3.78 billion cubic meters of untreated wastewater, including 1.98 million cubic meters in Beijing alone. This wastewater, containing hazardous materials from homes, businesses, and industrial processes, is dumped into rivers and lakes, rendering them unusable even for agriculture or industry.

China's water pollution problem is not just a quality of life issue, but a matter of survival. Local authorities have resorted to digging deeper wells to access potable water, as 80% of groundwater from major river basins is unsuitable for human contact. However, China has not stood idle in the face of this crisis. The country has made significant progress in reducing air pollution, and its water pollution prevention efforts have led to decreases in TP, NH3-N, and CODMn concentrations in most rivers. China is also retrofitting flue-gas desulphurization technology to factories, removing harmful sulphur dioxide from fumes.

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