China's War On Air Pollution

China has implemented various measures to tackle its air pollution problem, which has caused a public health crisis, killing more than 1.1 million people annually and resulting in an annual economic loss of $37 billion due to pollution-induced crop failure. Beijing, in particular, has been a city shrouded in smog, with air pollution levels far exceeding the World Health Organization's standards. To combat this, China has introduced action plans, such as the Three-year Action Plan for Winning the Blue Sky War, which aims to reduce pollution levels and associated health risks. These plans involve reducing coal consumption, improving heating systems, shutting down old coal-fired power plants, and incentivizing the use of electric vehicles. Beijing has also focused on phasing out polluting vehicles, improving its public transportation system, and reintroducing bike-sharing schemes. While China has made significant strides, it still has a long way to go to achieve its goal of eliminating severe air pollution by the end of 2025.

Reducing coal consumption

China's rapid economic growth, population increase, and surging number of vehicles have put immense pressure on the country's environment, particularly its air quality. The Chinese government has implemented various measures and policies to tackle air pollution, including a focus on reducing coal consumption.

In 2013, China declared war on smog and launched a five-year national air quality action plan. This was followed by a three-year action plan in 2018, which aimed to improve air quality in all of China's cities. As part of these initiatives, China set a target to cut total coal consumption to below 65% of total primary energy use by 2017. To achieve this goal, the government stopped approving new thermal power plants in key industrial areas, such as the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region and the Yangtze and Pearl River delta regions.

China also raised the share of non-fossil fuel energy and focused on switching from coal to natural gas heating across northern China. The government introduced policies to remove dispersed coal from urban areas, close inefficient coal-fired boilers, tighten CO2 emissions standards, and strengthen efficiency standards in power plants. These measures were designed to reduce local air pollution and improve air quality in heavily populated areas.

In Beijing, the municipal government launched a set of urgent measures to tackle air pollution, including laws, enforcement mechanisms, systematic planning, strict local standards, and high levels of public engagement. The campaign targeted all sources of pollution, including coal combustion, construction, and household fuel burning. Beijing also focused on reducing coal consumption by shutting down industrial sites and improving heating systems.

Overall, China's efforts to reduce coal consumption and tackle air pollution have shown significant results, with pollution levels and associated health risks decreasing. The country continues to strive for cleaner air and a more sustainable future, balancing economic development with environmental protection.

Improving public transport

China has been taking several measures to improve its public transport system and reduce air pollution.

Beijing, which was once known as the "Kingdom of the Bicycle", saw a shift from bicycles to cars as economic growth and urbanisation led to an increase in individual wealth. This shift contributed to a decline in air quality. To address this, Beijing authorities have reintroduced bike-sharing schemes to encourage the use of bicycles for short trips. The city has also been improving its subway system, with approximately 700 kilometres of the network available.

In addition to promoting active and public transportation, China is also working towards reducing car emissions. The country has implemented vehicle emission standards, and making these standards stricter could further reduce pollution from its 360 million vehicles. Initiatives like Low Emission Zones (LEZs) restrict access for polluting vehicles, encouraging the adoption of cleaner, emission-compliant modes of transportation.

Furthermore, China is promoting the use of electric vehicles to reduce carbon emissions. By 2025, the government aims to have fast-charging stations at no less than 80% of highway service areas in key regions, including Beijing, Tianjin, and Shanghai.

The government is also focusing on increasing freight cargo transport by rail and water by about 10% and 12%, respectively, by 2025 compared to 2020. This initiative aims to reduce the reliance on higher-polluting road transport.

These comprehensive measures to improve public transport and reduce vehicle emissions demonstrate China's commitment to tackling air pollution and creating a greener and more sustainable future for its citizens.

Scrapping old vehicles

China has been taking a range of measures to tackle its air pollution problem. One notable initiative is the scrapping of old vehicles, which have been identified as significant contributors to the country's poor air quality.

Beijing, in particular, has been at the forefront of this effort, with the municipal government offering subsidies to car owners who voluntarily turn in their ageing vehicles for scrapping. This approach has been effective in reducing the number of old, polluting cars on the roads, with similar initiatives being implemented in other cities across China.

In 2014, China announced plans to scrap more than 5 million ageing cars that did not meet Chinese fuel standards. This included 330,000 cars in Beijing, 333,000 in Tianjin, 160,000 in Shanghai, and 660,000 in Hebei province, where seven of China's smoggiest cities are located. The removal of these older vehicles is expected to help China meet its green targets, including reducing energy consumption and lowering carbon emissions.

To encourage the scrapping of old vehicles, various incentives have been implemented. In addition to the subsidies offered by the Beijing municipal government, other cities have implemented license plate lotteries and driving bans for older vehicles. These measures not only encourage the retirement of old cars but also promote the adoption of cleaner, more energy-efficient vehicles.

The efforts to scrap old vehicles are part of China's comprehensive air pollution control strategy. This includes reducing coal consumption, improving heating systems, implementing Low Emission Zones (LEZs), and promoting the use of electric buses and bicycles. By combining these initiatives, China is making significant progress in improving air quality and creating a more sustainable future for its citizens.

Stricter vehicle emission standards

China's rapid economic growth, population increase, and surge in the number of vehicles have put immense pressure on the country's environment, particularly its air quality. As the world's largest automobile producer and consumer, China has been grappling with the detrimental impacts of increased oil consumption.

To tackle this issue, China has implemented stricter vehicle emission standards, including the National VI B emission standards, which ban the production, imports, and sales of non-compliant vehicles. These standards include stricter requirements on pollutants such as carbon monoxide in gas and petrol vehicles. The new standards also require Real-Driving Emission (RDE) tests for vehicles while they are on the road, ensuring that they meet the required emission levels during actual use, rather than just in laboratory settings.

In addition to the National VI B standards, China has also proposed the China 6 regulations, which aim to reduce evaporative emissions and set durability requirements for vehicles. The China 6 standards are fuel-neutral, applying the same limits to both gasoline and diesel vehicles. This neutrality is intended to reduce overall emissions regardless of the fuel type used.

Furthermore, Beijing, as a large metropolitan area, has taken additional measures by adopting more stringent regulations ahead of the rest of the country. Beijing implemented Euro 4 standards for light-duty vehicles in 2008 and Euro 5-based standards from 2013. The city has also banned the sale and registration of light-duty diesel vehicles since 2000. Beijing has also introduced initiatives like Low Emission Zones (LEZs) to restrict access for polluting vehicles and drive the adoption of cleaner modes of transportation.

These stricter vehicle emission standards are part of China's comprehensive efforts to improve air quality and create a more sustainable future for its citizens.

Reducing industrial emissions

China's rapid economic growth, population increase, and surging number of vehicles have put immense pressure on the country's environment, particularly its air quality. In response, the Chinese government has implemented various measures to reduce industrial emissions and improve air quality.

One key measure is the Air Pollution Action Plan, released in September 2013, which has been influential in improving air quality. The plan targeted a reduction in PM2.5 levels, considered the most harmful particulate matter, and achieved significant results between 2013 and 2017. By 2019, the average PM2.5 concentration had dropped by 50%, from 72 micrograms per cubic meter (μg/m³) in 2013 to 36 μg/m³. However, PM2.5 levels still fall short of World Health Organization (WHO) standards, and overall PM2.5 levels rebounded in 2023.

To address industrial emissions, China has prohibited the construction of new coal-fired power plants and shut down several old plants in highly polluted regions, including Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei and the Pearl and Yangtze Deltas. Additionally, Beijing, a city once shrouded in smog, has implemented measures such as phasing out polluting vehicles, introducing driving bans, and providing scrapping incentives for older vehicles. The city has also focused on reducing coal consumption by shutting down industrial sites and improving heating systems.

Furthermore, China is utilizing technology and big data to tackle air pollution. The government has improved its coverage of air quality monitors and developed a new data platform that provides a real-time, hyperlocal view of air quality across cities. This platform detects pollution hotspots and helps enforce air quality regulations more effectively.

China has also introduced the Three-year Action Plan for Winning the Blue Sky War in 2018, which applies to all cities in the country. This plan focuses on reducing ozone pollution by setting targets for emissions reductions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and nitrogen oxides. While China has made significant progress in improving air quality, it still faces challenges in meeting air quality standards and sustaining these improvements.

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