Bronte Wells
Shenzhen, a city of about 13 million inhabitants in southern China, has been making significant strides in reducing air pollution and is now recognised as one of the Chinese cities with the lowest air pollution rates. In recent years, Shenzhen has implemented various initiatives to improve air quality, including electrifying its public bus fleet and promoting the use of electric taxis, resulting in substantial reductions in CO2 emissions. The city was also one of the first in China to pilot a local Emissions Trading System, creating a carbon market to encourage emission reductions among its largest companies. While Shenzhen has made notable progress, air pollution remains a concern, particularly due to the impact of adverse weather conditions and the contribution of motor vehicles, industrial production, and coal combustion to air pollutant levels.
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What You'll Learn
Shenzhen's air quality in 2022
Shenzhen, a city of about 13 million inhabitants in southern China, has been taking steps to improve its air quality since being designated a pilot zone for low-carbon development in 2010. The city has published two plans, in 2012 and 2017, outlining a roadmap to low-carbon development. The latter plan focused on designing a near-zero-carbon emission pilot zone.
In December 2017, Shenzhen announced that it had fully electrified its public bus fleet, with 16,359 electric buses on the road. By the end of 2018, Shenzhen had over 20,000 fully electric taxis, saving nearly 70% of energy over traditional combustible engine taxis and reducing the city's annual emissions by 856,000 tons per year. Between 2009 and 2015, Shenzhen achieved an accumulated reduction of 280,000 tons of CO2 and around 100,000 tons of fuel saving by promoting new energy vehicles.
Shenzhen is also one of seven locations to pilot a local form of the Emissions Trading System (ETS) during China's original testing phase. The ETS was first launched in 2013, and by the end of 2016, almost all of the enterprises included in the carbon trading control system had completed the necessary carbon trading compliance process. By 2015, CO2 emissions of these companies fell by 5.81 million tons, down 18.2% since 2010.
In February 2021, Shenzhen's Ministry of Environment and Ecology published a draft local 14th Five-Year Plan for environmental protection, calling for pilot projects to peak emissions, achieve carbon neutrality, or create carbon sinks. The plan also included measures to make the city climate resilient and identified climate mitigation as an opportunity for economic development.
Despite these efforts, Shenzhen's air quality declined significantly in late August 2022 due to adverse weather conditions and the impact of two successive typhoons. The city experienced mild air pollution for several days, with ozone (O3) as the primary pollutant. Shenzhen's AQI (air quality index) value exceeded 100 on four days between August 28 and September 2, with all days classed as being polluted.
Overall, Shenzhen's air quality in 2022 appears to be a mixed bag, with some months experiencing moderate levels of air quality and the city taking aggressive steps to reduce emissions and improve air quality. However, the recent decline in air quality due to adverse weather conditions highlights the ongoing challenges in maintaining healthy air quality in the city.
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The city's pollution-reducing initiatives
Shenzhen, a city in southern China with a population of around 13 million people, has been working to reduce its pollution levels over the past 40 years. The city has implemented various initiatives to balance economic growth with environmental protection and has been at the forefront of innovation in market economic policies for environmental protection.
One of Shenzhen's notable achievements is its early adoption of electric vehicle transport. Before becoming an official pilot zone, Shenzhen was one of the first cities globally to electrify its public bus fleet. By December 2017, the city had 16,359 electric buses on the road, and by the end of 2018, it had over 20,000 fully electric taxis, resulting in significant fuel savings and reduced emissions.
Shenzhen has also been a pioneer in the development of green building standards and the implementation of building energy conservation regulations. The city currently boasts the largest scale and density of green buildings in China, including green schools and eco-industrial parks.
In terms of policy, Shenzhen has enacted numerous laws and regulations for environmental protection, with about two-thirds of them being implemented before they became nationwide. One notable example is the daily penalty system, which continues to fine polluting entities until the issue is resolved. Shenzhen was also the first city in China to initiate carbon trading and issue carbon bonds, exceeding 100 million Chinese renminbi ($14 million) in turnover.
Additionally, Shenzhen has experimented with initiatives to upgrade its industry, improve production quality, and embrace innovation while growing its GDP. The city was one of the first in China to convert its economic base from heavy industry to service and light manufacturing, enforcing cleaner production standards. Shenzhen also mandated that its furniture manufacturing industry convert from solvent to water-borne furniture coatings to reduce VOC emissions.
Shenzhen's Ministry of Environment and Ecology published a draft local 14th Five-Year Plan for environmental protection in early 2021, aiming to solicit input from public opinion. The plan includes pilot projects to peak emissions, achieve carbon neutrality, and create carbon sinks, as well as measures to make the city climate resilient.
Overall, Shenzhen has made significant strides in reducing pollution and is recognised as one of China's cities with the lowest air pollution rates.
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Shenzhen's pollution sources
Shenzhen, a city of about 13 million inhabitants in southern China, has been undergoing a transformation in recent years, becoming one of the cities with the lowest air pollution rates in the country. This is a significant change from its past as an "unattractive factory town".
Shenzhen was designated as a special economic zone 40 years ago, competing economically with neighbouring Hong Kong and accommodating China's growing manufacturing industry. In 2010, the Chinese government selected Shenzhen as one of 11 provinces and cities to develop and pilot low-carbon solutions for industry, transport, renewable energy, construction, consumption, and ecology.
Since then, Shenzhen has published two plans outlining a roadmap to low-carbon development. The first plan, released in 2012, provided an initial analysis and recommendations, while the second plan in 2017 detailed the design of a near-zero carbon emission pilot zone, complete with the necessary support structures, technical and policy systems, and concrete actions.
Shenzhen has implemented several measures to reduce pollution and improve air quality. Notably, it was among the first cities globally to fully embrace electric vehicle transport, including electrifying its fleet of public buses. By December 2017, Shenzhen had 16,359 electric buses on the road, and by the end of 2018, the city had over 20,000 fully electric taxis, resulting in significant fuel savings and reduced emissions.
In addition to transport, Shenzhen has focused on reducing emissions from industrial enterprises. The city has inspected 990 key businesses involving VOCs (volatile organic compounds), with seven of them undergoing further investigation and suggestions for improvement. Shenzhen has also established a carbon market with functioning trading mechanisms for carbon emission allowances among the city's largest companies.
Despite these efforts, Shenzhen still experiences periods of mild to moderate air pollution due to various factors such as adverse weather conditions, including typhoons, and emissions from industrial sources and transportation.
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Air pollution levels in 2020
Shenzhen, a city of about 13 million inhabitants in southern China, has been making efforts to reduce air pollution. In 2010, the Chinese government designated Shenzhen as one of 11 provinces and cities to develop and pilot low-carbon solutions. Since then, Shenzhen has published two plans outlining a roadmap to low-carbon development.
Towards the end of 2020, Shenzhen was experiencing a "Moderate" level of air quality with a US AQI figure of 61. The concentration of the other recorded airborne pollutants were as follows: PM2.5 was 18 µg/m³, PM10 - 54 µg/m³, ozone (O3) - 64.5 µg/m³, nitrogen dioxide (NO2) - 24 µg/m³, sulphur dioxide (SO2) - 24 µg/m³, and carbon monoxide (CO) - 24 µg/m³. The World Health Organization (WHO) classifies annual recordings above 23.4 µg/m³ as "Moderate."
In June 2020, Shenzhen achieved the WHO target figure of 10 µg/m³ or less. For November, December, and January, the figures were "Unhealthy for sensitive groups" with numbers ranging from 35.5 to 55.4 µg/m³. For the remaining eight months of the year, the figure was classified as "Moderate," with numbers between 12.1 and 35.4 µg/m³.
The engineering industry is a major source of pollution in Shenzhen. Emissions include black carbon (BC), sulphur oxides (SOx), nitrogen oxides (NOx), carbon monoxide (CO), and carbon dioxide (CO2) organic compounds, halides, and other VOCs. Domestic stoves and heating boilers that consume large amounts of coal, especially older, inefficient ones, contribute to air pollution. During the combustion process, coal releases a large amount of dust, sulphur dioxide (SO2), carbon monoxide (CO), and other harmful substances.
In recent years, the quality of air in Shenzhen has worsened significantly, with haze lasting for several days due to adverse weather conditions. The primary pollutant was found to be ozone (O3). Shenzhen has launched comprehensive measures to improve air quality.
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The impact of weather on air quality
Shenzhen, a city in southern China with an estimated population of 13 million people, has experienced a decline in air quality in recent years. The city's air quality index (AQI) value has been classified as "Moderate", with a US AQI figure of 61 reported towards the end of 2020. The concentration of various airborne pollutants was also recorded, including PM2.5, PM10, ozone (O3), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), sulphur dioxide (SO2), and carbon monoxide (CO).
The wind patterns in Shenzhen can influence the dispersion of pollutants and impact the city's air quality. The air pollution map for Shenzhen includes options to view the location of ground-level air monitoring stations, fires in the vicinity, and the direction of prevailing winds. These tools help predict whether the city will be affected by smoke from nearby fires and provide data on air quality.
In addition to weather conditions, human activities have also contributed to air pollution in Shenzhen. The engineering industry, including the use of domestic stoves and inefficient heating boilers, is a major source of pollution. Emissions from these sources include black carbon (BC), sulphur oxides (SOx), nitrogen oxides (NOx), carbon monoxide, and organic compounds. Motor vehicle exhaust emissions, particularly from diesel trucks, are another significant contributor, accounting for 41% of local PM2.5 emission sources. PM2.5 refers to particulate matter with a diameter of less than or equal to 2.5 microns, which can enter the lungs and have serious health impacts.
To address air pollution, Shenzhen has implemented various measures. The city was among the first to fully embrace electric vehicle transport, electrifying its public bus fleet and introducing electric taxis. Shenzhen has also piloted low-carbon solutions, with plans to achieve carbon neutrality and create carbon sinks. The city established the first Chinese carbon market, the Emissions Trading System (ETS), and continues to develop innovative approaches to reduce carbon emissions and improve air quality.
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Frequently asked questions
Shenzhen is one of China's cities with the lowest air pollution rates. In 2010, the Chinese government designated Shenzhen as one of 11 provinces and cities to develop and pilot low-carbon solutions.
Motor vehicle exhaust emissions are the main source of pollution in Shenzhen, accounting for 41% of local PM2.5 emission sources. Diesel trucks are the primary source of pollution among motor vehicles.
Shenzhen's air quality is classed as Moderate with a US AQI figure of 61. In 2019, the average annual recording was 23.4 µg/m³, which is also classed as "Moderate".
