Helena Joyce
China has experienced the fastest economic growth of any country over the last 40 years, but this has come at a heavy environmental cost. The country has many of the world's most polluted cities and is the largest emitter of greenhouse gases. However, China is also the world's biggest manufacturer of solar panels, wind turbines, batteries, and electric vehicles, and it is investing heavily in clean energy. The country has also implemented air pollution action plans, which have led to significant reductions in pollution levels and associated health risks. China is working to reduce air pollutants and carbon emissions by increasing energy efficiency, investing in clean energy, and tightening air pollution control.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Air Pollution Action Plans | Reduced pollution levels and associated health risks |
| Air Pollution Control Action Plan | Supported by the World Bank with a $500 million loan |
| Green Financing | RMB 150 billion yuan ($21.2 billion) by the end of 2022 |
| Clean Energy | Dominates global manufacturing of solar panels, wind turbines, batteries, and E.V.s |
| Banned Plastic Bags | Reduced plastic bag usage by 10% |
| Soil Pollution | 38,610 square miles of cultivated land polluted |
| Water Pollution | 31.5 million square miles of contaminated water |
| Solid Waste | 2 million square miles of land covered or destroyed |
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What You'll Learn
Reducing coal consumption
China is the world's largest consumer and producer of coal. In 2021, its coal consumption and production accounted for more than half of the world's total. Coal consumption is a major driver of global CO2 emissions and a significant contributor to China's air pollution crisis, which causes an estimated 1.1 million deaths annually.
China's near-term commitments on carbon peaking and coal phase-down do not include specific targets on total CO2 emissions or coal consumption, leaving room for uncertainties. However, the country has ambitious plans to reduce coal consumption in the decades ahead. During the 13th Five-Year Plan (2016-2020), China introduced many policies aimed at reducing coal's share of the energy mix, including capping coal use, removing dispersed coal from urban areas, switching from coal to natural gas heating across much of northern China, closing inefficient coal-fired boilers, tightening CO2 emissions standards, and strengthening efficiency standards in power plants.
The average coal consumption per kilowatt-hour of electricity generation has been declining in China through a combination of replacing old, inefficient fleets with new builds and retrofitting. China has also invested in research and a skilled workforce, supporting Chinese clean energy companies.
To accelerate the reduction of coal consumption, China can focus on several strategies. Firstly, setting specific targets for total coal consumption reduction and CO2 emissions can provide a clear direction and help track progress. Secondly, continuing to invest in research and development of clean energy technologies, such as solar, wind, and battery storage, can help reduce the reliance on coal. Additionally, enhancing market reforms, ensuring stable investment in renewable energy sources, and providing support for communities, workers, and firms affected by the transition can help manage the socio-economic impacts of reducing coal consumption.
While China has made progress in reducing coal consumption, it continues to face challenges due to concerns about energy security and the significant role that coal plays in its economy. Balancing the need for energy security with the transition to cleaner energy sources is crucial for China's future.
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Improving waste management
China's pollution crisis has been caused in part by the country's rapid industrialization and population growth since the 1980s. This has resulted in increased soil pollution, with contaminated water being used for irrigation, and solid waste covering or destroying cultivable land. The country's waste management systems have struggled to keep up with the increasing volume and complexity of waste, which poses serious risks to the environment and public health.
To address these issues, China has implemented a series of policies and measures to improve waste management and reduce pollution. These include:
- The Air Pollution Action Plan, released in 2013, which helped reduce PM2.5 levels (atmospheric particulate matter) in Beijing by 33% and in the Pearl River Delta by 15% between 2013 and 2017.
- Prohibiting new coal-fired power plants and shutting down old plants in the most polluted regions, including Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei and the Pearl and Yangtze Deltas.
- Restricting the number of cars on the road in large cities like Shanghai, Shenzhen, and Guangzhou, and introducing all-electric bus fleets.
- Banning the production, sale, and use of plastic bags in 2008, which led to a 10% reduction in plastic bags found in the garbage.
- Implementing the concept of the 3Rs (reduce, recycle, and reuse) for waste management, with a focus on waste reduction, waste separation, and waste utilization via energy recovery.
- Developing a circular carbon economy, where waste is used as a secondary carbon feedstock to replace fossil resources for production, contributing to environmental protection and resource conservation.
- Utilizing digitalization to promote prevention, reduction, reuse, and recycling of waste before waste disposal in landfills, improving cooperation between the government and private sector, and increasing job opportunities.
These measures have helped China make significant improvements in its air and waste management, reducing the environmental and health risks associated with pollution.
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Investing in clean energy
China has been taking steps to address its pollution problem, and investing in clean energy is a significant part of this.
China has been making strategic investments in renewable technologies, including solar and wind capacity, green hydrogen, and geothermal projects, as well as research and investment in battery storage and supply chains. In 2024, China invested 6.8 trillion yuan ($940 billion) in clean energy, with more than half of that investment coming from the electric vehicle, battery, and solar industries. This has contributed to China's global dominance in the manufacturing of solar panels, wind turbines, batteries, and electric vehicles.
China's clean energy investments are expected to continue growing rapidly through 2025, and the country has set dual carbon goals: to peak carbon emissions before 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality before 2060. China's commitment to clean energy is evident in its policies and initiatives, such as the Air Pollution Action Plan implemented in 2013, which helped significantly improve air quality between 2013 and 2017.
Additionally, China has been working on improving its environmental infrastructure, focusing on the treatment and proper disposal of sewage, garbage, and hazardous waste. The country has also taken steps to reduce the use of plastic bags and address the issue of medical waste disposal.
While China still relies heavily on fossil fuels, particularly coal, there is a strong emphasis on transitioning to cleaner alternatives. The country's investments in low-emission power and electric vehicles demonstrate its commitment to reducing pollution and improving air quality.
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Reducing vehicle emissions
China has been taking steps to reduce its air pollution, which has caused a public health crisis, killing more than 1.1 million people annually. One of the main contributors to this pollution is vehicle emissions, which account for nearly 10% of carbon emissions and as much as 35% of small-particulate pollution.
To reduce vehicle emissions, China has been encouraging the use of electric vehicles (EVs). China is already the world's largest manufacturer of electric vehicles, batteries, and wind turbines. The country has also introduced systems that can recharge electric cars in just five minutes, addressing one of the biggest inconveniences of EV ownership.
China has also been investing in research and development, with the number of patents for electric-vehicle batteries and hybrid powertrains rising significantly since 2017. This has been aided by a synergy between universities and automakers, with patent filings for hybrid technologies significantly higher in cities with both universities and automakers.
To further incentivize the adoption of electric vehicles, China has provided hundreds of billions of dollars in subsidies to wind, solar, and electric car manufacturers, while also protecting its markets from foreign competitors. The government has also set targets for EV adoption, aiming for zero-emission vehicles to make up 100% of passenger car sales by 2035 and 100% of heavy-duty truck sales by 2050.
In addition to promoting electric vehicles, China has implemented policies to reduce the number of cars on the road. Large cities like Shanghai, Shenzhen, and Guangzhou have restricted the number of cars and started introducing all-electric bus fleets. The government is also encouraging the use of public transportation, with a target of achieving a 75-85% green transport mode share for passenger transport (including bikes, walking, and public transport) by 2060.
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Improving soil pollution
Soil pollution has become a serious health and environmental threat in China, contaminating the food chain with heavy metals, fertilizers, and pesticides, and polluting groundwater and surface water. The immense population growth in China since the 1980s has resulted in increased soil pollution, with an estimated 10 million hectares of arable land affected.
To address this issue, China has adopted its first soil pollution law, the Soil Pollution Prevention and Control Law, which came into effect on January 1, 2019. This law takes a "'putting prevention first' approach and includes measures to protect soil from future pollution, while also holding polluters accountable for risk management and remediation obligations. However, the cost of remediation efforts is expected to be high, with estimates ranging from CNY 30 billion to CNY 9 trillion. The government will likely only be able to cover a small fraction of this cost, so attracting private investment will be crucial.
To improve soil pollution in China, the following steps could be taken:
- Increase investment in soil pollution prevention and control: This includes allocating more government funds towards remediation efforts and providing incentives for private investors to get involved.
- Improve supervision and management of soil pollution: China has been working on developing new technical guidelines for the prevention and control of soil pollution, as well as providing training for government officials, cleanup professionals, and offending companies. Enhancing public awareness and participation is also an important aspect.
- Address the contamination of food crops: Contaminated food crops pose a serious threat to public health and food security. Measures such as increased testing and monitoring of crop quality, as well as the development of new standards and regulations, could help address this issue.
- Promote sustainable agricultural practices: By encouraging practices such as organic farming, conservation tillage, and the use of cover crops, China can help reduce the impact of agriculture on soil pollution.
- Collaborate with international organizations: China can benefit from the knowledge and resources of organizations such as the Global Environment Facility (GEF), which has already supported China in its efforts to reduce soil pollution.
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Frequently asked questions
China has implemented a series of mitigation actions, including the Air Pollution Action Plan, which helped improve air quality between 2013 and 2017. The country has also restricted the number of cars on the road in large cities, introduced all-electric bus fleets, and shut down coal-fired power plants in highly polluted regions.
Individuals can contribute by reducing their use of single-use plastic bags and switching to reusable alternatives. This has already been encouraged by a ban on supermarkets and shops providing free plastic bags, which has resulted in 10% less plastic bag waste.
Coal is the largest source of air pollutants and greenhouse emissions in China, accounting for 66% of the country's energy mix. China consumed approximately 4 billion tons of coal in 2014, more than the rest of the world combined.
