Air Pollution In Beijing: Understanding The Main Causes

Beijing, China's capital city, is notorious for its poor air quality, earning it the nickname Airpocalypse. The city's air pollution is caused by a combination of factors, including industrial emissions from heavy industries such as coal power, steel, cement, and glass manufacturing, as well as traffic fumes from the growing number of motor vehicles on the road. The topography of the city, surrounded by mountains, also plays a role in trapping pollution within its limits. Coal-burning factories, outdated technology, and population growth further contribute to the problem. The health consequences of air pollution are severe, with exposure to fine particles leading to various diseases and contributing to approximately 2 million deaths in China annually. While Beijing has implemented measures to reduce pollution, it continues to face the challenge of balancing economic growth with improving air quality.

Industrial emissions from heavy industries

Beijing's air pollution is caused by a variety of factors, including an economic boom, a surge in motor vehicles, population growth, manufacturing output, and natural causes such as topography and seasonal weather. One significant contributor to the city's poor air quality is the industrial emissions from heavy industries located on the outskirts of Beijing and in nearby cities like Harbin and Hebei. These coal-burning factories rely on outdated and inefficient technologies, emitting pollutants that contribute to the smog problem in Beijing.

The manufacturing of iron and steel, cement plants, coal combustion, and petroleum refinement have been identified as major sources of particulate matter, leading to the dense winter smog in Beijing. These heavy industries emit excessive amounts of pollutants, particularly sulphur dioxide and particulate matter, which form the ingredients of haze. The suspension of heavy industry production may provide temporary relief, but it does not address the fundamental issues.

China has implemented stringent laws to curb industrial pollutant emissions, but enforcement and compliance remain challenging. The country's rapid economic growth has often taken priority over environmental concerns, resulting in neglected industrial pollution mitigation efforts in some regions. The agglomeration of firms in certain areas further exacerbates pollution emission intensity, impacting public health.

To address the issue of industrial emissions, China has proposed various action plans. The 13th Five-Year Plan (2016-2020) saw a 30% reduction in PM2.5 levels, and the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025) set targets to decrease carbon intensity and total coal consumption. However, in the first half of 2023, some provinces prioritized economic projects, resulting in increased approvals for coal power plants and high-emission industries.

The reduction of anthropometric emissions from heavy industries is crucial to mitigating air pollution in Beijing. This includes implementing cleaner energy sources, industrial upgrades, and more stringent inspections to ensure compliance with environmental protection laws. Addressing industrial emissions from heavy industries is essential to improving air quality and reducing the health risks associated with air pollution.

Motor vehicle emissions

Emissions from these vehicles contribute to nearly 70% of the city's air pollution. The four most dangerous pollutants emitted by motor vehicles are sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), carbon monoxide (CO), and particulate matter (e.g. PM10). Newly introduced vehicles often have lower emission standards, emitting more pollutants than older models. This is particularly concerning given the already high levels of pollution in Beijing.

The health impacts of air pollution are significant, with fine particles in the polluted air penetrating deep into the lungs and cardiovascular system. This can cause various diseases, including stroke, heart disease, lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and respiratory infections. It is estimated that air pollution is responsible for about 2 million deaths in China annually, with ambient air pollution alone causing more than 1 million of these.

To tackle this issue, the Beijing government has implemented measures to reduce car emissions. For example, ahead of the 70th-anniversary celebrations of World War II in 2015, the Beijing government temporarily shut down industrial facilities and reduced car emissions to improve air quality. While these measures may provide temporary relief, more permanent solutions are needed to address the underlying issue of motor vehicle emissions and their impact on air quality and public health in Beijing.

In addition to motor vehicle emissions, other factors contributing to Beijing's air pollution include industrial emissions, coal power plants, manufacturing output, and natural factors such as the city's topography and seasonal weather. However, motor vehicle emissions remain a key focus area for improvement, with the number of vehicles and their emissions playing a significant role in the city's overall air quality.

Population growth

Firstly, a larger population means more people are engaging in everyday activities that contribute to air pollution. Activities such as cooking with polluting fuels and technologies, as well as increased energy consumption, have led to higher emissions of harmful pollutants. The increased demand for energy has been primarily met by coal, a cheap but highly polluting source, with coal-burning factories contributing significantly to Beijing's smog.

Secondly, population growth has resulted in a surge in the number of motor vehicles on Beijing's roads. With increased wealth, more individuals can afford motor vehicles, adding nearly 1200 new vehicles each day. These vehicles emit pollutants such as sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), carbon monoxide (CO), and particulate matter, contributing to nearly 70% of the city's air pollution. Newly introduced vehicles often have lower emission standards, emitting more pollutants than older models.

Moreover, the growing population has put pressure on Beijing's infrastructure and resources. The city's surrounding topography, with mountains trapping pollution within its limits, exacerbates the issue. As the population expands, the demand for housing, industry, and transportation increases, leading to further pollution from construction, manufacturing, and vehicle emissions.

Additionally, population growth has driven economic development, with a positive correlation between increased wealth and pollution levels. As people seek higher living standards and more consumption, industries expand to meet demands, leading to higher emissions from manufacturing, energy consumption, and transportation of goods.

Lastly, the IPAT model (I = Impact, P = Population, A = Affluence, and T = Technology) helps analyze how population growth interacts with other factors to increase pollution. While emission intensity has been a significant factor in improving Beijing's air quality, the combined impact of population growth, affluence, and technology use has overwhelmed the positive effects of emission reduction efforts.

Coal-burning factories

Beijing, China's capital city, has become notorious for its poor air quality, earning it the moniker "Airpocalypse". The city's air pollution is caused by a combination of factors, including an economic boom, a surge in motor vehicles, population growth, manufacturing output, and natural reasons such as topography and seasonal weather. One significant contributor to Beijing's air pollution is the coal-burning factories located on the outskirts of the city and in the neighbouring cities of Harbin and Hebei.

These coal-burning factories rely on outdated and inefficient technologies, releasing harmful emissions into the atmosphere. The surrounding mountains trap the pollution within the city limits, exacerbating the problem. The air quality typically worsens in spring and summer when temperature and humidity levels rise, and winds blow pollutants from industrialised southern regions towards Beijing, contributing to the smog.

The Chinese government has recognised the severity of the issue and implemented plans to tackle air pollution. The main strategy involves reducing coal consumption by shutting down polluting mills, factories, and smelters and transitioning to eco-friendly energy sources. These efforts have shown some success, with a 23.6% decrease in average PM2.5 levels in 74 key cities between 2013 and 2015.

Despite these improvements, Beijing continues to experience episodes of dangerously poor air quality. In January 2013, air pollution levels reached nearly 1,000 μg per cubic meter of PM2.5, which includes harmful pollutants such as K+, Ca2+, NO3-, and SO42-. Such high levels of pollution have led to hundreds of flight cancellations and frequent road closures due to low visibility.

The health consequences of air pollution in Beijing are significant. Exposure to fine particles in polluted air can penetrate deep into the lungs and cardiovascular system, causing various diseases, including stroke, heart disease, lung cancer, and respiratory infections. According to the Chinese Ministry of Health, industrial pollution, including coal burning, has made cancer the leading cause of death in China.

Topography and seasonal weather

Beijing's topography and seasonal weather are significant factors in the city's air pollution. Surrounded by mountains, the city is a victim of its own geography, as the mountains trap pollution within its limits. This is exacerbated by the industrial emissions from the heavily industrialised province of Hebei that surrounds Beijing. These emissions come from industries such as coal power, steel, cement, and glass manufacturing.

The seasonal weather also plays a crucial role in air quality. The air quality worsens in spring and summer when temperature and humidity levels rise, and winds carry pollutants from the industrialized southern regions, contributing to the smog. This phenomenon was observed in 2013, when Beijing experienced dangerously poor air quality, with pollution levels 22 times higher than World Health Organization guidelines.

In addition to the natural factors, Beijing's air pollution is influenced by the rapid economic growth the country has experienced. This has resulted in a surge in the number of motor vehicles on the roads, with emissions from these vehicles contributing to nearly 70% of the city's air pollution. The increase in wealth has also led to a population boom, with Beijing's population swelling from 11 million to 16 million in just seven years. This population growth has further contributed to the city's extensive pollution.

While Beijing has implemented measures to tackle air pollution, such as reducing coal consumption and shutting down polluting industries, the city continues to struggle with poor air quality. In 2015, the average PM2.5 level in 74 key cities was still 55 μg/m3, and in 2018, these cities enjoyed good air quality on only 79% of days. However, there has been some progress, with Beijing experiencing its lowest PM2.5 on record in August 2019, at 23 micrograms per cubic meter.

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