China's Air Pollution: Overcoming Obstacles To Breathe Easy

China has made significant progress in improving its air quality, especially since the launch of its anti-pollution campaign in 2013. However, it still has a long way to go in its battle against air pollution, which has caused a public health crisis, killing more than 1.1 million people annually. While China has implemented various measures to reduce pollution, such as aggressive afforestation and reforestation programs, there are still barriers to fixing the issue entirely. These include the country's heavy reliance on coal, industrial emissions, and the large number of vehicles on the road.

China's economic growth has been fuelled by fossil fuels, causing serious air pollution

China's unprecedented economic growth over the last 40 years has been fuelled by fossil fuels, particularly coal, which has caused serious air pollution. In 2014, China consumed approximately 4 billion tons of coal, more than the rest of the world combined. Coal consumption in the Jing-Jin-Ji region alone was almost 1.8 billion tons, equivalent to the consumption of nearly all OECD countries combined. China's fuel mix in 2022 was 61% coal and 17.9% oil, according to the International Energy Association.

The country's heavy reliance on coal and other fossil fuels has led to severe air pollution, with fine particulate matter (PM2.5) deemed the most harmful. According to the Global Burden of Disease study, ambient PM2.5 pollution caused approximately 1.4 million premature deaths in China in 2019. The average PM2.5 concentration dropped by 50% from 2013 to 2019, thanks to government anti-pollution campaigns. However, China still has a long way to go to eliminate severe air pollution, with the World Health Organization's recommended annual average of 10µg/m³ yet to be achieved in any Chinese city.

China's economic growth has been a double-edged sword, bringing both prosperity and environmental challenges. The country's rapid industrialisation and urbanisation have contributed to air pollution, with industrial emissions and vehicle exhausts being significant sources of pollutants. The burning of fossil fuels releases harmful substances such as fly ash, bottom ash, sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, mercury, and other heavy metals into the atmosphere. Additionally, China's massive number of vehicles, approximately 360 million, contributes significantly to air pollution, despite having a lower number of cars per person than many other countries.

To combat air pollution, China has implemented various measures, including the introduction of vehicle emission standards, the tightening of rules governing vehicle exhausts, and the installation of scrubbers in coal power plants. The government has also invested in renewable energy projects, such as large-scale solar power production and the construction of the world's first solar highway. Additionally, China has launched aggressive afforestation and reforestation programs, planting more than 35 billion trees across 12 provinces. These efforts have shown positive results, with China boasting the fastest air quality improvement worldwide. However, there are still challenges ahead, and China must continue to strive for sustainable practices to achieve its goal of eliminating severe air pollution by the end of 2025.

The country's reliance on coal for energy demands has been a key factor

China's reliance on coal to meet its energy demands has been a significant contributor to its air pollution crisis. In 2014, China's fuel mix comprised 66% coal, and the country consumed approximately 4 billion tons of coal that year—more than the rest of the world combined. Half of China's coal is used for decentralized boilers in the industrial and residential sectors, with coal consumption in the Jing-Jin-Ji region alone reaching almost 1.8 billion tons in 2014, accounting for 40% of the country's total coal consumption.

Coal-fired power plants are a major source of air pollutants, emitting harmful substances such as fly ash, bottom ash, sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, mercury, and other heavy metals. Recognizing the impact of coal on air quality, the Chinese government has taken steps to reduce coal consumption and transition to cleaner energy sources. For example, the government prohibited new coal-fired power plants and shut down old plants in highly polluted regions, including Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei and the Pearl and Yangtze Deltas.

However, reducing coal consumption and transitioning to cleaner energy sources is a complex and long-term process. China's economic growth has historically relied heavily on fossil fuels, and shifting to renewable or nuclear energy sources requires time and stable energy supplies. In the interim, efforts have been made to improve energy efficiency and implement emission control technologies to mitigate the impact of coal-fired power plants on air quality. For instance, scrubbers have been fitted to coal power plants to curb the dirtiest emissions, leading to a significant 75% drop in sulphate emissions.

Despite these challenges, China has made notable progress in reducing its reliance on coal and improving air quality. Between 2013 and 2019, the average PM2.5 concentration, deemed the most harmful particulate matter, dropped by 50%, from 72 micrograms per cubic meter (μg/m³) to 36 μg/m³. This trend continued during the Covid era (2020-2022), with the average annual concentration of PM2.5 in 339 major Chinese cities falling to 29 μg/m³ in 2022. As a result, China now boasts the fastest air quality improvement worldwide, and researchers predict that if these reductions are sustained, there could be a significant increase in the country's average life expectancy.

China's rapid economic growth has come at a heavy environmental cost

China's economic growth has been fuelled by fossil fuels, with coal being the single largest source of air pollutants and greenhouse gas emissions. In 2014, China consumed approximately 4 billion tons of coal, more than the rest of the world combined. This heavy reliance on coal has resulted in dangerously high levels of air pollution, with fine particulate matter (PM2.5) concentrations far exceeding national and World Health Organization (WHO) standards. In 2019, ambient PM2.5 pollution was responsible for approximately 1.4 million premature deaths in China, according to the Global Burden of Disease study.

Recognizing the severity of the problem, the Chinese government has taken aggressive action to combat air pollution. In 2013, the government launched a five-year national air quality action plan, targeting a reduction in PM2.5 levels. This was followed by the Three-year Action Plan for Winning the Blue Sky War in 2018, which applied to all cities in China. The government also introduced afforestation and reforestation programs, investing over $100 billion in such initiatives.

As a result of these efforts, China has made significant improvements in its air quality. Between 2013 and 2019, the average PM2.5 concentration dropped by 50%, and this trend continued during the Covid era. China now boasts the fastest air quality improvement worldwide, and research suggests that the decline in air pollution could lead to an increase of 2.2 to 2.4 years in average life expectancy for its citizens.

However, there are still challenges ahead. China's efforts to reduce air pollution have inadvertently contributed to a surge in global warming, as the removal of aerosols from the atmosphere has resulted in a greater warming effect. Additionally, China still has the world's largest number of vehicles, with 360 million on the road, and stricter vehicle emission standards could help reduce pollution further. While China has made remarkable progress in addressing air pollution, continued efforts and a transition to cleaner energy sources will be crucial to sustaining these improvements and mitigating their unintended climate consequences.

The government's anti-pollution campaigns have been effective but more is needed

China's anti-pollution campaigns have been effective in reducing air pollution and improving air quality. Since the government declared a "war on air pollution" in 2013, the country has made significant strides in addressing the issue. The Air Pollution Action Plan of 2013, in particular, helped China make substantial improvements in its air quality between 2013 and 2017, reducing PM2.5 levels (atmospheric particulate matter) by 33% in Beijing and 15% in the Pearl River Delta. This was followed by the Three-year Action Plan for Winning the Blue Sky War in 2018, which mandated an 18% reduction in PM2.5 levels in 231 cities.

However, it is important to acknowledge that more needs to be done. While China has the fastest air quality improvement rate globally, it still has a long way to go to reach the World Health Organization's recommended annual average PM2.5 level of 10µg/m³. Air pollution continues to be a severe problem in China, causing approximately 1.4 million premature deaths in 2019, according to the Global Burden of Disease study.

One of the critical challenges in China's battle against air pollution is the country's heavy reliance on coal, which accounts for 66% of its energy mix. China consumed approximately 4 billion tons of coal in 2014, more than the rest of the world combined. Reducing coal consumption and transitioning to cleaner energy sources are essential steps in improving air quality. However, developing a stable supply of renewable or nuclear energy takes time and requires significant infrastructure changes.

Another barrier to fixing air pollution in China is the high number of vehicles on the road. With 360 million vehicles, China has the highest number of cars in any country worldwide. Vehicle emissions contribute significantly to air pollution, and while China already has vehicle emission standards in place, strengthening these regulations could help reduce pollution from this sector. Additionally, China's rapid economic growth, which has been fuelled by fossil fuels, has resulted in serious air pollution issues. Decoupling economic growth from pollution and transitioning to a more sustainable model is a complex task that requires a strategic transformation.

Furthermore, recent studies have suggested that China's efforts to reduce air pollution have inadvertently contributed to the surge in global warming. The removal of aerosols from the atmosphere has resulted in a 5% increase in global temperatures since 1850. This finding underscores the complexity of the issue and the need for a comprehensive approach that considers the interplay between air quality regulations and their potential impact on climate change.

Deeper policy changes are required to strengthen easy gains

China's rapid economic growth has historically been fuelled by fossil fuels, resulting in severe air pollution. While the country has made significant strides in reducing pollution levels, deeper policy changes are necessary to strengthen these gains and achieve long-lasting improvements.

One key area requiring policy intervention is China's reliance on coal, which remains the single largest source of air pollutants and greenhouse gas emissions. Reducing coal consumption is essential, and this can be achieved through improved energy efficiency and a transition to cleaner energy sources. The government has already taken steps in this direction, such as prohibiting new coal-fired power plants and shutting down old ones in highly polluted regions. However, with coal still accounting for a significant portion of China's fuel mix, more stringent policies are needed to curb coal consumption and encourage the adoption of renewable or nuclear energy sources.

Another area requiring policy attention is industrial emissions. Many Chinese industrial facilities lack flue gas treatment, resulting in higher power plant emissions compared to other countries. Implementing stricter emission control technologies, such as electrostatic precipitators, desulphurisation, and selective catalytic reduction, can help reduce the release of harmful pollutants like sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and fine particles.

Vehicle emissions also contribute significantly to air pollution in China, with 360 million vehicles on the road. While the country already has vehicle emission standards, making these regulations even stricter could help reduce pollution from this sector. Additionally, promoting the use of electric vehicles and improving public transportation can help decrease the number of vehicles on the road and, consequently, reduce vehicle-related emissions.

Furthermore, China's rapid economic development has resulted in it becoming the world's largest emitter of greenhouse gases. Decoupling economic growth from pollution is crucial for long-term success in combating air pollution. This involves promoting sustainable practices across various sectors, investing in renewable energy projects, and providing incentives for businesses to reduce their carbon footprint.

Lastly, policy changes should also focus on enhancing monitoring and forecasting systems for air pollution. Accurate forecasting can help protect public health by issuing warnings during periods of severe pollution, enabling people to take necessary precautions. Additionally, forecasting can assist governments in implementing preventive measures, developing improvement strategies, and making informed decisions regarding urban development and infrastructure.

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