Air Quality In Beijing: Is It Safe To Breathe?

Beijing has long been known as one of the most air-polluted cities on Earth, earning the nickname Airpocalypse. The city's air quality is impacted by a range of factors, including industrial emissions from heavy industries such as coal power, steel, cement, and glass manufacturing in the surrounding province of Hebei, as well as traffic fumes from its crowded roads. The topography of the city, with mountains surrounding it, also traps pollution within its limits. In recent years, Beijing has made significant strides in improving its air quality, but it still faces challenges, with pollution levels exceeding the World Health Organization's guidelines.

Industrial emissions from heavy industries

Beijing's air pollution has been labelled an "Airpocalypse", with the city being named one of the most polluted cities on Earth. One of the key causes of this is industrial emissions from heavy industries.

Beijing is surrounded by Hebei, a heavily industrialised province. The industrial emissions from Hebei, coupled with traffic fumes, cause the air pollution episodes that have become a regular feature in the daily life of Beijing's over twenty million inhabitants.

The main polluting industries include coal power, steel, cement, and glass manufacturing. In addition, coal-burning factories on the outskirts of Beijing and in nearby cities such as Harbin and Hebei contribute to the smog. These factories rely on outdated and inefficient technologies.

The manufacturing of iron and steel, cement plants, coal combustion, and the refinement of petroleum have been proven to be the main sources of particulate matter leading to wintertime smog in Beijing. The particulate matter, along with nitrogen oxide and sulphur dioxide, are released by heavy industry. Many heavy industrial enterprises in northern China emit excessive amounts of pollutants that are rich in sulphur dioxide and particulate matter, the ingredients of haze.

China has established stringent laws to curb industrial pollutant emissions, but is confronted with poor implementation. The central government has been relocating heavy industries from Beijing to its surroundings, mainly to Hebei. However, even with stringent control measures, many industrial emissions still violate emission standards.

Traffic fumes from crowded roads

Beijing has been dubbed the "Airpocalypse" and the "smog capital of the world", with air pollution levels that are six times higher than the World Health Organization's guidelines. One of the key contributors to this issue is the traffic fumes from crowded roads.

The number of motor vehicles on Beijing's roads has skyrocketed, with a 335% increase over the past two decades. This surge in vehicles has severe environmental implications, as emissions from these sources account for nearly 70% of the city's air pollution. The four most dangerous pollutants emitted by vehicles are sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), carbon monoxide (CO), and particulate matter (e.g. PM10). The situation is exacerbated by the fact that newer vehicles have lower emission standards, releasing more pollutants into the atmosphere compared to older models.

The impact of traffic fumes on Beijing's air quality is not solely due to the number of vehicles but also the types of vehicles on the road. China's shift from bicycles to combustion engines has had a detrimental effect on the environment. The rise in wealth has made it possible for more individuals to afford motor vehicles, and as a result, the city's air quality has suffered.

To address the problem of traffic fumes, Beijing has implemented a series of measures. One notable strategy has been the expansion of urban rail, moving away from a car-centric approach to one that prioritizes sustainable mobility. The city has also established a high-density PM2.5 monitoring network, with over 1000 sensors distributed across Beijing, to precisely identify areas and times with high emissions.

Despite these efforts, Beijing continues to experience air pollution episodes. The complexity of the issue was highlighted during the COVID lockdowns when, despite significant decreases in traffic and economic activity, particle pollution levels remained high. This persistence of pollution suggests that sources outside the city, such as industrial emissions and pollutants carried by air flows from hundreds of kilometres away, also play a significant role in Beijing's air quality challenges.

Population growth and economic boom

Beijing's air pollution is largely a result of its population growth and economic boom. China's economic growth in the past three decades has been the fastest among major nations, and this extensive economic growth has correlated with an increase in pollution. The surge in the number of motor vehicles, for example, has contributed to nearly 70% of the city's air pollution. The number of motor vehicles on Beijing's roads has doubled to 3.3 million, with nearly 1200 added each day.

The population of Beijing has also been increasing, with the city attracting China's rural migrants. In 2011, the population of Beijing was 19.6 million, and by 2020, the government expected satellite cities to house 5.7 million of these residents. Population growth in China's megacities has outpaced growth in more moderately-sized cities, and this has put pressure on limited resources and infrastructure.

The economic boom has also led to an increase in manufacturing, with industrial emissions from heavy industries such as coal power, steel, cement, and glass manufacturing in Hebei, the heavily industrialised province surrounding Beijing, contributing to air pollution episodes. Coal-burning factories on the outskirts of Beijing also contribute to the smog, and the city's topography, surrounded by mountains, ensures that pollution remains trapped within its limits.

The combination of population growth and economic boom has resulted in Beijing's notorious air pollution, earning it the title of one of the most air-polluted cities on Earth.

Inefficient coal-burning factories

Beijing, China's capital, has gained a reputation for being one of the most air-polluted cities on Earth. The air pollution in Beijing is caused by a combination of industrial emissions, traffic fumes, and natural factors.

Hebei, a heavily industrialised province surrounding Beijing, is home to heavy industries such as coal power, steel, cement, and glass manufacturing. The industrial emissions from these factories are a key culprit of Beijing's air pollution. The burning of coal releases harmful pollutants into the atmosphere, including ground-level ozone, particulate matter, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen dioxide. These pollutants have severe health impacts on Beijing's residents, with studies showing that their average lifespan is five to six years shorter than that of citizens living in southern China.

China's rapid economic growth in the past few decades has been a major factor in its extensive air pollution. The country's economic boom has led to a surge in manufacturing output and motor vehicle ownership, both of which contribute significantly to air pollution levels. Newly introduced vehicles, despite having lower emission standards, emit higher levels of pollutants than older models. While China has made commitments to transition to clean energy and reduce coal consumption, recent reports indicate a resurgence in the construction of new coal-fired power plants, posing a challenge to these environmental goals.

Topography and seasonal weather

Beijing's location in the lowland area, surrounded by mountains, makes it slightly warmer in winter than other parts of China at the same latitude. The mean monthly temperature drops below 50 °F (10 °C) for half the year, and the annual mean temperature is 53 °F (12 °C). The city experiences a long winter, usually starting in late October, with monthly mean temperatures from December to February falling below freezing. Spring is windy, short, and warm, with high winds causing droughts that negatively impact agriculture. Dust storms are common in April and May, exacerbated by increasing desertification in Inner Mongolia. Summer is hot and humid, with winds carrying pollutants from industrialised southern regions, worsening the air quality.

The city's topography, with its surrounding mountains, traps pollution within its limits. The wind direction is influenced by this topography, with more southerly winds during the day and northerly or northwesterly winds at night. The general air circulation in the region is mainly from the northwest throughout the year, with minimal maritime effects. The nearby Yongding River, which flows through the mountains to the west of Beijing, rises rapidly during the rainy season, carrying large amounts of silt and posing a flood risk to the city.

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