Strategies To Reduce Pollution In China

China's rapid economic growth has come at a cost: air pollution that has caused a public health crisis, killing more than 1.1 million people every year. In 2013, China experienced some of its highest pollution levels, and public awareness and criticism reached new heights. The Chinese government has since implemented various measures to combat pollution, including restricting the number of cars on the road, introducing electric bus fleets, shutting down coal mines, and investing in afforestation and reforestation programs. These efforts have shown results, with particulate pollution in China declining by 39.6% from 2013 to 2020. However, challenges remain, and China continues to grapple with high air pollution levels, especially in its northern cities.

Reducing coal consumption

China is the world's largest consumer and producer of coal, with coal consumption and production accounting for more than half of the world's total in 2021. In the same year, coal-fired power plants generated 62.6% of the country's electricity. As such, reducing coal consumption is a crucial step in China's battle against air pollution.

In 2013, China experienced some of its highest pollution levels, which sparked a mass outpouring of anger among citizens. As a result, the Chinese government launched a "war against pollution", allocating substantial public resources to combat pollution. As part of this effort, the government prohibited new coal-fired power plants and shut down older plants in the most polluted regions, including the city clusters of Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei and the Pearl and Yangtze Deltas.

To further reduce coal consumption, China has implemented several measures. These include:

• Switching from coal to cleaner energy sources, such as natural gas and renewables.
• Merging state-owned coal power producers to curb overcapacity and improve efficiency.
• Removing dispersed coal from urban areas, which refers to raw coal that is inefficiently combusted and highly polluting.
• Closing inefficient coal-fired boilers and tightening CO2 emissions standards.
• Implementing afforestation and reforestation programs, such as the Great Green Wall, which involved planting more than 35 billion trees across 12 provinces.

These efforts have yielded significant results. Between 2013 and 2020, China's particulate pollution declined by 39.6%, adding about two years to the average life expectancy if these reductions are sustained. Beijing, the city with the highest pollution levels in the country, experienced a 55% decline in concentrations of harmful particulate matter during this period.

Despite this progress, challenges remain. China's coal consumption increased in 2021, reaching its highest level ever, due to energy-intensive industries and relaxed policies limiting coal use. Additionally, there is a growing dependence on fossil fuels, with coal production and imports surging in recent years. China's coal imports increased by 61.8% between 2021 and 2022, marking a record high.

To address these issues, Chinese policymakers have plans to strictly control coal use during the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025) and start phasing down coal use in the following five-year period (2026-2030). The central government's decision to cap coal power projects and prioritize cleaner energy sources is expected to play a crucial role in reducing coal consumption and promoting sustainable development.

Increasing renewable energy sources

China has been the world's largest and fastest-growing producer of renewable power for over a decade, and its lead has widened with an acceleration of solar and wind power capacity in recent years. In 2020, China pledged to reach 1,200 gigawatts of renewables capacity by 2030, and it is on track to meet that target early or even exceed it.

China's renewable energy sector is growing faster than its fossil fuels and nuclear power capacity, and is expected to contribute 43% of global renewable capacity growth. China's total renewable energy capacity exceeded 1,000 GW in 2021, accounting for 43.5% of the country's total power generation capacity, a significant increase from 31.5% in 2015.

• Continue to invest in solar power: China has been a world leader in the manufacture of solar photovoltaic technology, and its solar exports grew by 64% to US$52 billion in 2022. By the end of 2020, China's installed capacity for solar power reached 252 GW, and it is set to install more than 100 GW of solar panels in 2022. China should continue to invest in and develop its solar power capacity to further increase its renewable energy sources.
• Develop wind power projects: China has the largest wind resources in the world, and it has identified wind power as a key growth component of its economy. By the end of 2020, China's onshore wind power capacity reached 276 GW, exceeding its target of 210 GW. China should continue to develop and invest in wind power projects to further increase its renewable energy capacity.
• Improve rural grid transmission: In 2021, the National Energy Administration (NEA) promised to improve rural grid transmission and allow village collectives to invest in distributed renewable power. By the end of 2022, more than 51 GW of new distributed solar photovoltaic was installed, with nearly half of it on rural rooftops. China should continue to improve rural grid transmission and promote the adoption of distributed rooftop solar to increase renewable energy use in rural areas.
• Expand financing channels for renewables: The NEA has also announced plans to expand financing channels for renewables and improve incentives and market mechanisms. China should continue to expand financing and provide incentives for renewable energy projects to encourage further investment and development in this sector.
• Address logistical challenges: There are significant logistical challenges to renewable energy in China, including grid connections and long-distance transmission of electricity. China should invest in developing more long-distance, high-voltage transmission lines to maximize the use of renewable energy produced and improve the efficacy of its renewable energy policy.
• Promote foreign investment: China encourages foreign companies, especially from the United States, to invest in Chinese wind power generation. By promoting and facilitating foreign investment in renewable energy projects, China can further increase its renewable energy capacity.

Improving vehicle emissions

China has been the largest vehicle market in the world since 2009, and vehicle emissions have become a significant source of air pollution in its cities. To improve vehicle emissions, China could implement the following measures:

Vehicle Electrification and Clean Power

Battery electric vehicles and hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles have the largest decarbonization potential, and if coupled with greener power and hydrogen-related sectors, they could contribute to 60% of cumulative GHG emissions reductions. China has already been introducing all-electric bus fleets in large cities like Shanghai, Shenzhen, and Guangzhou, and the sale of new energy vehicles has been subsidised by the government.

Structural Changes

Shifting from private cars to buses and improving vehicle occupancy have the second-largest mitigation potential and can cut cumulative road transport emissions by 23% by 2060. China could also increase vehicle occupancy and shift from private cars and trucks to low-emitting modes of transport like buses and freight railways.

Vehicle Fuel-Efficiency Improvements

By improving fuel efficiency, China could generate an additional 17% of cumulative emissions reductions from 2020 to 2060.

Reducing industrial emissions

China's industrial emissions are largely driven by its heavy reliance on coal, which has powered its economic growth. In 2018, coal constituted 59% of the country's total energy use, and 79% of CO2 emissions are from coal burning. China's industrial sector is the primary coal consumer, with manufacturing, agriculture, mining, and construction collectively making up 49% of coal use in 2017.

To reduce industrial emissions, China has implemented several measures:

Reducing coal consumption

China has prohibited new coal-fired power plants and shut down old ones in highly polluted regions. It has also reduced its iron and steel-making capacity and shut down coal mines. In 2018, Beijing introduced an action plan mandating that 480 million tons of carbon capacity from steel production meet "ultra-low emission" standards by 2020.

Transition to cleaner energy sources

China is transitioning to cleaner energy sources such as natural gas, which emits 50-60% less carbon than coal. The country is also rapidly expanding its renewable energy capacity, with wind and solar power growing significantly. China is on track to meet its target of 25% non-fossil fuel energy share by 2030 and has surpassed its wind and solar capacity target six years ahead of schedule.

Improving power grid efficiency

China is upgrading its power grid with more efficient "ultra-supercritical" plants, which produce more energy with less coal.

Carbon capture and storage

China introduced carbon capture and storage technology in 2013, which is still in the early phases of development.

Emissions trading scheme

China implemented a nationwide emissions trading scheme (ETS) that incentivizes companies to reduce emissions by putting a "price" on CO2.

Electric vehicles

China aims to have 5 million electric vehicles on the road by 2020, reducing emissions from the transport sector.

Afforestation and reforestation

China has introduced aggressive afforestation and reforestation programs, such as the Great Green Wall, and has planted more than 35 billion trees across 12 provinces.

Air Pollution Action Plan

In 2013, China launched a five-year national air quality action plan, followed by a three-year action plan in 2018, which set targets for reducing particulate matter (PM2.5) and ozone pollution.

These measures have contributed to significant improvements in air quality and reductions in pollution levels, with particulate pollution declining by 39.6% between 2013 and 2020. However, challenges remain, including a continued dependence on coal and increasing emissions of other pollutants such as ozone.

Improving water security

Water security is a pressing issue in China, with nearly a quarter of urban residents lacking access to proper drinking water and sanitation facilities. Water scarcity and pollution are significant problems, and over half of China's water pollution comes from land use and degradation. Industrial pollution, rapid urbanisation, and climate change have all contributed to the decline in water quality and availability.

To address these challenges, China has implemented several measures:

• Improving land management: Good land management practices can improve water quality and restore reliable water flows. The Nature Conservancy (TNC) in China uses water funds to support upstream land conservation and restoration, with projects such as the Longwu Water Fund and Qiandao Lake water fund.
• Water conservation and restoration: China has launched initiatives like the "sponge city" programme, which aims to capture and reuse more rainfall in urban areas.
• Water transfer projects: China has undertaken massive water transfer projects, such as the South-North Water Diversion Project, to supply water from the south to northern cities like Beijing and Tianjin.
• Policy reforms: The Chinese government issued the "Three Red Lines" water management objectives in 2012, which include limiting national water use, increasing industrial water use efficiency, and improving water quality by 2030. The Water Pollution Prevention and Control Action Plan, released in 2015, also sets targets for reducing water pollution.
• Agricultural practices: China's food production heavily relies on irrigation, which has been threatened by increasing water scarcity. The government has invested in irrigation infrastructure and is working to improve irrigation efficiency to ensure food security.
• International cooperation: China's activities along the Mekong River, which flows into several Southeast Asian countries, have caused concerns about water security in the region. International collaboration and transparency are crucial to addressing these issues.

While China has made notable progress in improving water security, challenges remain, especially regarding groundwater pollution and scarcity. Addressing these issues will require continued efforts and innovative solutions to ensure sustainable water resources for the country's growing population and economic development.

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