Bronte Wells
China has been taking several measures to combat its pollution problem, which has been a significant issue for the country. In 2013, China's then-premier Li Keqiang declared a war on pollution, leading to initiatives such as shifting homes from coal to gas heating and closing small coal-fired power plants near urban areas. China has also been promoting the use of electric vehicles, aiming to reduce carbon emissions and improve air quality. In addition, the country has implemented policies to reduce plastic waste and improve water quality. Despite these efforts, China's pollution problem remains a challenge, with air pollution levels still exceeding the World Health Organization's guidelines.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Air pollution reduction | 41% reduction in air pollution in the decade through 2022 |
| Air quality standards | Established new ambient air quality standards |
| National emission trading scheme | Operating since July 2021 |
| "War on pollution" | Launched in 2014 by Premier Li Keqiang |
| Action plan | Reduce hazardous airborne particles (PM2.5) by 10% by 2025 compared to 2020 |
| Coal use | Cut coal consumption in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region by about 10% by 2025 |
| Electric vehicles | Promote the use of electric vehicles with fast-charging stations |
| Freight cargo transport | Increase freight cargo transport by rail and water by 10%-12% by 2025 |
| Water pollution | 90% of groundwater contaminated by toxic waste and farm fertilizers |
| Plastic waste | Leading generator of plastic waste, with about 60 million tons produced in 2020 |
| "National Sword" policy | Restricted import of recyclable plastic scrap |
| Belt and Road Initiative | May lead to permanent environmental degradation |
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China's coal use
China's reliance on coal as its primary energy source is a significant contributor to its air pollution crisis. Coal-fired power supports many of China's critical sectors, including steel, cement, and heavy manufacturing, which have seen increased activity following the pandemic. As such, China's carbon dioxide emissions rose by 4% in the second half of 2020 compared to the same period in 2019.
China has acknowledged the need to reduce its coal consumption and has implemented various policies and initiatives to that end. During the 13th Five-Year Plan (2016-2020), China introduced policies to cap coal use, remove raw coal from urban areas, transition from coal to natural gas for heating, close inefficient coal-fired boilers, and strengthen efficiency standards in power plants.
In 2020, President Xi Jinping pledged to reach carbon neutrality by 2060, signalling a shift towards decarbonization. The Chinese government's Mid-Century Long-Term Low Greenhouse Gas Emission Development Strategy, released in 2021, aims for 80% non-fossil fuels in the energy mix. The 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025) reiterates the commitment to strictly control coal consumption, with a 10% reduction target for the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region and a 5% reduction for the Yangtze River Delta region by 2025.
China is also promoting the use of electric vehicles and increasing freight cargo transport by rail and water to reduce road transport emissions. Railway usage is expected to account for 90% of long-haul coal transport around key mining hubs in the north and northwest by 2025. Additionally, China is working with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to develop the \"co-control\" concept, which aims to reduce China's dependence on coal through various industrial practices and market mechanisms.
However, China's renewable energy resources are currently insufficient and intermittent, posing challenges to reducing coal consumption in the near term. The lack of an absolute cap on CO2 emissions and vague commitments in the 14th Five-Year Plan have led to concerns about the country's commitment to decarbonization.
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Air quality standards
China's air quality standards have been in place since 1982, when the country first issued its "Ambient Air Quality Standard". This standard was first amended in 1996 and again in 2000, with further modifications since. The standards include different timelines and are divided into classes: Class 1 applies to special regions like national parks, and Class 2 applies to all other areas, including urban settings.
The initial standard set limits for TSP (Total Suspended Particulates), SO2, NO2, lead, and BaP (Benzo(a)pyrene). Over time, the number of pollutants regulated has increased to ten. In 2012, China released an updated standard, GB 3095-2012, which for the first time set limits on PM2.5. This was implemented nationwide by 2016, with some cities and regions required to adopt the standards earlier.
In 2023, China issued an action plan to further improve air quality. The plan includes targets to reduce hazardous airborne particles (PM2.5), develop new and clean energy sources, increase natural gas production, and curb high-emissions projects. China also aims to reduce coal consumption in specific regions and increase the use of electric vehicles, with fast-charging stations in key areas.
Despite these efforts, the overall level of air pollution in China remains a concern, and it continues to impact downwind countries. However, there have been significant improvements in large cities, and China is working towards stricter standards to align with World Health Organization guidelines.
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Water pollution
Water security is a significant challenge for China. The country is the world's biggest water user, accounting for 13% of global freshwater consumption. China's ongoing modernisation has expanded access to safe drinking water for millions, but issues of scarcity and pollution persist.
China's rapid economic growth, industrialization, and urbanization, coupled with inadequate investment in water treatment infrastructure, have resulted in widespread water pollution. Industrial pollution has wreaked havoc on the country's water supply, with factories releasing untreated waste and chemicals into rivers and lakes. According to authorities, a pollution accident occurs every two to three days in China. In addition, 80% of China's 7,500 dirtiest factories are located on rivers, lakes, or in heavily populated areas, increasing the potential for future pollution.
The central government has begun to address the pollution problem by issuing stricter regulations on pollutants and investing billions in water projects. The government has also shown interest in "green" solutions, such as the sponge city initiative, which integrates natural solutions like wetlands with grey infrastructure. By the end of 2018, China implemented a top-down target responsibility system with over 300,000 river chiefs at various levels, and the number of water bodies with improved water quality has since increased.
However, the challenge of ensuring water security remains. China's supply is undermined by interconnected factors such as water scarcity, urbanization, population growth, pollution, and competing water demands. The country's water resources are unevenly distributed, with water-abundant southern China prone to severe floods, while northern China, home to the country's agricultural centre, experiences severe water shortages. Climate shocks and heatwaves further exacerbate these issues.
To address these challenges, China has formulated policies to alleviate water pollution, but their effectiveness varies across provinces. Technical improvements and innovative solutions, such as the grey water footprint assessment, are being explored to reduce pollution loads and protect freshwater resources.
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Plastic waste
China is the world's largest producer and consumer of plastics, accounting for around a fifth of global plastic consumption. It is also the biggest producer of single-use and virgin plastics, with an annual average production of 60 million tons, of which only about 17%-30% is recycled. As such, China has been plagued by plastic pollution for decades and is the biggest offender of ocean plastic pollution.
In recent years, China has implemented several measures to tackle plastic waste pollution. In 2018, the country imposed a strict import ban on foreign plastic waste, previously importing almost 600,000 metric tons in 2017 alone. This ban has had varying effects, reducing plastic waste imports into China but redirecting them to other poorer countries, such as those in Southeast Asia and Africa. China has also banned non-degradable single-use plastic straws and is encouraging the use of alternatives like bamboo, wood, and paper.
The Chinese government is actively promoting environmentally sustainable practices and has set ambitious carbon neutrality goals. The World Bank has approved a loan of $430 million for the China Plastic Waste Reduction Project, aiming to improve plastic waste management and reduce plastic pollution at the national and subnational levels. Two project cities, Ningbo and Chongqing, will benefit 13.2 million residents by improving solid waste management systems, addressing plastic leakage, and increasing recycling rates.
China is also increasing waste incineration capabilities, aiming to burn 800,000 tons of urban domestic waste per day by 2025. Additionally, the government is pushing businesses to reduce disposable plastic packaging and plans to have at least 10 million reusable boxes for express delivery in use by 2025.
While China's strategies to reduce plastic waste are still being evaluated for their effectiveness, the country is taking action to address a significant global issue.
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Electric vehicles
China, the world leader in automobile production and sales, has been transitioning to electric vehicles (EVs) to reduce transportation emissions, which account for roughly 10% of its total carbon emissions. In 2023, China accounted for 63.5% of the world's new energy vehicle sales, with 9.5 million new energy vehicles sold, mainly EVs. This rapid growth in EV sales has been driven by the Chinese government's commitment to transitioning from conventional gasoline and diesel-fueled cars to reduce local air pollution, improve energy security, and mitigate climate change.
To encourage the adoption of EVs, the Chinese government has provided generous subsidies for EV purchases since 2009. Additionally, China has imposed a mandate requiring that EVs make up 40% of all vehicle sales by 2030. This mandate is expected to significantly impact the global EV market, driving down the cost of EVs and their batteries. While the transition to EVs comes with a high societal cost, it is projected to bring about substantial emission reductions and improve public health.
Studies have shown that replacing gasoline vehicles with EVs significantly reduces emissions, with an average monthly reduction of 9.47%. However, it is important to note that the environmental benefits of EVs depend on their usage patterns. While private EVs generally contribute positively to environmental outcomes, taxi EVs, due to their intensive usage, may sometimes worsen air quality. Additionally, the lifecycle carbon footprint of an EV is significantly lower than that of an internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicle, with emissions being 37.8% less.
However, the uptake of EVs in China may be hindered by surging prices of critical materials such as lithium, cobalt, nickel, and manganese, which are essential for EV batteries. Under a high-cost scenario for these materials, EV adoption may be reduced, leading to increased cumulative carbon emissions and jeopardizing China's climate targets. To mitigate this issue, material recycling and technical battery innovation are recommended, along with securing supply chains through international cooperation.
Furthermore, the integration of EVs into a green power system dominated by renewable energy will significantly contribute to China's decarbonization efforts. EVs can also play a role in energy storage and load-shifting measures for a renewable-rich power system. Overall, the transition to EVs in China is a crucial step towards reducing transportation emissions and improving air quality.
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Frequently asked questions
China has implemented a range of measures to improve air quality, including:
- Reducing the number of cars on the road in large cities and introducing all-electric bus fleets.
- Shutting down coal mines and reducing the country's iron and steel-making capacity.
- Investing in aggressive afforestation and reforestation programs.
- Prohibiting new coal-fired power plants and shutting down older plants in highly polluted regions.
- Promoting the use of electric vehicles and expanding the availability of fast-charging stations.
- Investing in renewable energy sources such as solar and wind power.
China has taken several steps to reduce plastic pollution, including:
- Banning supermarkets, department stores, and shops from providing free plastic bags and encouraging the use of cloth bags.
- Banning the production, sale, and use of ultra-thin plastic bags.
China has implemented legislation to ban the importation of electronic waste and promote the proper disposal of domestic waste. Additionally, they have invested in clean energy technologies and programs to reduce water pollution, such as geothermal heating, which does not generate water pollutants.
