China's War On Air Pollution: Strategies And Challenges

China has made significant strides in combating air pollution in recent years, with the country accounting for three-quarters of global air pollution reductions from 2013-2020. The government has introduced various initiatives, such as aggressive afforestation and reforestation programs, the promotion of electric vehicles, and the development of new and clean energy sources. Despite these efforts, air pollution remains a challenge, with China still being home to many of the world's most polluted cities and facing issues such as high PM2.5 levels and ozone pollution. However, China's progress in addressing air pollution has laid the foundation for potential gains in life expectancy for its citizens.

China's air pollution crisis

China has been facing an air pollution crisis, with the issue proving to be a serious public health problem. The country has been responsible for three-quarters of the global reduction in air pollution from 2013 to 2020, and its fight against air pollution has laid the foundation for significant gains in life expectancy. In 2013, China declared a "war on smog" and launched a five-year national air quality action plan. This was followed by the Three-year Action Plan for Winning the Blue Sky War in 2018, which applied to all cities in China and mandated an 18% reduction in PM2.5 levels.

Beijing, in particular, has been a leader in electric mobility, with 99% of the world's 385,000 electric buses. The city has implemented a series of comprehensive air pollution control programs, targeting different sources of pollution. This includes a focus on sustainable transportation, such as the expansion of urban rail and the reintroduction of bike-sharing schemes. Beijing has also set up a dense PM2.5 monitoring network, with over 1000 sensors distributed across the city, to help identify areas with high emissions.

China has also taken steps to reduce carbon emissions, with the promotion of electric vehicles and the expansion of fast-charging stations. The government has called for an increase in freight cargo transport by rail and water, and plans to expand funding for clean heating in the northern regions. Additionally, China has invested in aggressive afforestation and reforestation programs, such as the Great Green Wall, planting more than 35 billion trees across 12 provinces.

Despite these efforts, China's air pollution crisis is not yet over. The average PM2.5 level in Beijing is still six times higher than the World Health Organization's guideline, and other pollutants such as ozone are also a growing concern. While there have been improvements, particularly during the COVID-era, continued action is needed to sustain the reductions in pollution and further improve air quality in China.

Beijing's air quality improvements

Beijing has made significant strides in improving its air quality in recent years. The city has implemented a series of comprehensive air pollution control programs that target different sources of pollution. At the heart of this shift is Beijing's resolve to champion urban rail expansion and move away from its car-centric culture. The city has also set up a dense PM2.5 monitoring network, with over 1000 sensors distributed across the city, which has played a crucial role in identifying areas and times with high emissions.

In 2013, China released its most influential environmental policy, the Air Pollution Action Plan, which helped the nation make significant improvements in its air quality between 2013 and 2017. The plan set targets for reducing PM2.5 levels, a primary pollutant that contributes to deadly air in many cities. Beijing reduced its PM2.5 levels from 89.5 µg/m³ to 60, achieving an annual average of 58 µg/m³ – a drop of 35%.

China's efforts to improve air quality have laid the foundation for potential gains in the country's life expectancy. Research suggests that if the declines in air pollution persist, the average citizen can expect to live 2.4 years longer. By tackling air pollution, Beijing showcases the synergy between sustainable transportation and economic prosperity, setting an example for other cities grappling with similar challenges.

Despite these improvements, challenges remain. Beijing's average PM2.5 level is still six times higher than the World Health Organization's guideline. China continues to issue action plans to improve air quality, with targets to reduce hazardous airborne particles, develop new and clean energy sources, and promote the use of electric vehicles.

China's reforestation programmes

China has been combating deforestation and promoting large-scale reforestation efforts for decades. In 1998, the Chinese government embarked on one of the world's largest forest protection campaigns, aiming to cover 18 out of 33 provinces. From 1998 to 2018, Beijing injected close to $80 billion into the program. In 1999, China launched the Grain for Green Programme, which aimed to convert steeply sloped or ecologically fragile farmland into forests or grasslands. Farmers were given subsidies or compensation to stop cultivation and allow for natural forest regeneration.

The northern part of the China Great Green Wall project aimed to create a protective belt of forests to combat desertification and soil erosion. In 2009, China committed to increasing forest stock to 1.3 billion by 2020. Between 2014 and 2017, China brought in a nationwide ban on felling natural forests. In 2020, the Chinese government revised the Forestry Law for the comprehensive Protection of Natural Forests. The Green Belt Development targets cities and urban areas, aiming to create green belts and urban forests to improve air quality, reduce the urban heat island effect, and provide recreational spaces for residents.

China has also made progress in using green financing to prevent harmful investments. They have published guides on green lending and risk control in overseas lending and have been mobilizing public and private funds to help conserve forests. China is also keen on trading its carbon credits, as its forest cover has improved. China's reforestation efforts are aligned with its commitment to achieving carbon neutrality by 2060, contributing to global efforts to reduce carbon emissions and combat climate change.

China's reforestation efforts have had both positive and negative impacts on various industries. While they have encouraged sustainable practices in the energy, forestry, and tourism sectors, they have also led to increased regulation and costs for the timber products and land development industries.

China's transition from bicycles to cars

In the early 2000s, China experienced a dramatic decline in bicycle ownership as rising incomes, technological advancements, and policy neglect led to a surge in car culture. The bicycle, which was once a proud symbol of the proletariat during Chairman Mao Zedong's rule, lost its status as a symbol of urban sophistication to the automobile. This transition was further accelerated by the introduction of electric bikes, which now account for 90% of the over 20 million electric bikes sold worldwide annually. As a result, cities like Beijing, which were once packed with bicycles, became shrouded in smog and struggled with severe air pollution.

The increase in the number of vehicles put immense pressure on China's cities, with Beijing's vehicles increasing by 335% between 1998 and 2017. This rapid growth in vehicle ownership, coupled with economic growth and a rising population, contributed to a public health crisis, with air pollution causing more than 1.1 million deaths every year. In response, the Chinese government has implemented various measures to combat air pollution, including aggressive afforestation and reforestation programs, the promotion of electric vehicles, and the development of new and clean energy sources.

Despite the challenges posed by the transition from bicycles to cars, China has made remarkable strides in improving its air quality in recent years. Beijing, for example, has implemented a series of comprehensive air pollution control programs and transformed itself from a car-centric metropolis to a leader in sustainable mobility. The city has set up a dense PM2.5 monitoring network, with over 1000 sensors distributed across the city, to precisely identify areas and times with high emissions. China has also issued action plans to improve air quality, setting targets for reducing hazardous airborne particles and curbing projects that lead to high energy consumption and emissions.

While China continues to grapple with high air pollution readings and the consequences of its transition from bicycles to cars, the country is making progress in combating air pollution and improving the sustainability of its transportation sector. The revival of bicycle ownership and use is also being promoted in cities like Xiamen and Shenzhen, which are constructing cycling networks to cut through congestion and encourage a return to this more environmentally friendly mode of transportation.

China's future air quality goals

China has made significant strides in improving its air quality in recent years, and its future air quality goals are ambitious. The country has set a target of reducing the density of hazardous airborne particles known as PM2.5 by 10% by 2025 compared to 2020 levels. This is expected to prevent as many as 180,000 pollution-related deaths by 2025. China also aims to keep the number of days with severe pollution to less than 1%.

To achieve these goals, China plans to promote the use of electric vehicles and expand the network of fast-charging stations to at least 80% of highway service areas in key regions, including Beijing, Tianjin, and Shanghai, by 2025. It also intends to increase freight cargo transport by rail and water by about 10% and 12%, respectively, by 2025 compared to 2020, reducing reliance on road transport, which is a major source of air pollution.

Another key aspect of China's future air quality goals is the reduction of coal consumption. By 2025, China aims to reduce coal consumption in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region and surrounding areas by about 10% from 2020 levels. A 5% reduction is targeted for the Yangtze River Delta region, and coal use in northern China's Shanxi and Shaanxi provinces will also be cut during this period. To achieve this, China will strictly control total coal use and curb high-emissions projects, while also promoting the development of new and clean energy sources and increasing natural gas production.

China has also implemented aggressive afforestation and reforestation programs, such as the Great Green Wall, which involved planting more than 35 billion trees across 12 provinces. These programs have contributed to significant improvements in air quality, with China accounting for three-quarters of global air pollution reductions from 2013 to 2020.

While China has made remarkable progress, challenges remain. The average PM2.5 level in Beijing is still six times higher than the World Health Organization's guideline. China's goals are also below the air quality targets recommended by the World Health Organization. However, the country's dynamic strategies and comprehensive air pollution control programs demonstrate a strong commitment to improving air quality and addressing the public health crisis caused by air pollution.

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