Greta Jimenez
China has long faced challenges with air pollution, which has impacted the health of its citizens and the environment. Cities in China have consistently ranked among the most polluted in the world, with 10 out of the 20 most polluted cities in 2023 located in Henan Province. Beijing, the capital, has suffered from high levels of air pollution, with residents experiencing Moderate levels of pollution for only two months in 2019. Other cities like Shanghai and Shenzhen have also faced air quality issues, with pollution levels visibly impacting residents' well-being and daily life. China's pollution stems from industrialisation, population growth, coal combustion, and vehicle emissions. While China has made progress in recent years, implementing environmental reforms and reducing coal consumption, air pollution remains a significant concern with widespread repercussions.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Cities with high air pollution | Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Tianjin, Hotan, and 10 cities in Henan Province |
| Causes of air pollution | Coal combustion, fossil fuel emissions, industrial discharges, biomass combustion, tobacco business, vehicle engines, and factory emissions |
| Health impacts | Cancer, premature deaths, respiratory issues, and brain development issues in children |
| Efforts to improve air quality | Reducing coal consumption, closing polluting industries, adopting Environmental Air Quality Standards, implementing flue-gas desulphurization technology, increasing forest cover, and switching to eco-friendly energy sources |
| Recent improvements | Beijing's PM2.5 reading decreased to 23 µg/m³ in August 2019, a 33% reduction in PM2.5 levels between 2013 and 2017, and improved air quality in Shanghai and Shenzhen compared to 10+ years ago |
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What You'll Learn
Beijing's air pollution
Beijing, China's capital, has long been known for its poor air quality. In 2019, Beijing residents experienced "moderate" levels of pollution for just two months, August and September. For the remaining ten months, they breathed air that was classified as "unhealthy for sensitive groups" according to World Health Organisation guidelines.
However, Beijing has been taking steps to improve its air quality. In the early 2000s, the city began to implement measures to reduce pollution gases such as carbon monoxide, sulphur dioxide, and particulate matter. By 2017, these measures had resulted in a 35% decrease in PM2.5 concentration since 2013, and a 93% decrease in sulphur dioxide concentrations since 1998. Heavy pollution episodes became less frequent and less intense.
Beijing has also focused on reducing coal use, providing cleaner fuels for home use, and restructuring industries to reduce emissions. The city has also worked to prevent dust pollution by repairing degraded ecosystems and increasing green spaces. In addition, Beijing has reintroduced bike-sharing schemes and improved its subway system to reduce car usage.
As a result of these efforts, Beijing's air quality has shown significant improvement in recent years. In August 2019, the city experienced its lowest PM2.5 reading since records began, with a level of just 23 µg/m³. If this positive trend continues, Beijing could fall out of the top 200 most polluted cities in the world.
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Shanghai's air quality
Shanghai, China's largest city, has been experiencing problems with air pollution. In June 2022, Shanghai had a period of "Moderate" air quality, with a US AQI reading of 97. The main pollutant was PM2.5, with a level of 34 µg/m³—almost seven times higher than the recommended level of 5 µg/m³ set by the World Health Organisation (WHO).
According to the China Air Quality Index (AQI), Shanghai's overall air quality index was 91, with the PM2.5 (fine particulate matter) AQI at 91 and the PM10 (respirable particulate matter) AQI at 67. The nitrogen dioxide (NO2) levels were also notable, with an AQI of 17. These figures indicate that Shanghai's air quality continues to be a challenge, despite some improvements in recent years.
Shanghai's air pollution has implications for public health. During periods of high pollution, residents are advised to close doors and windows to prevent dirty air from entering their homes. Those sensitive to poor air quality are also recommended to limit their time outdoors until conditions improve. The Chinese government has recognised the severity of the issue and has invested heavily in combating pollution, pledging over $277 billion in 2013.
While Shanghai's air quality has shown some improvement, it continues to be an area of concern. With the government's efforts and increasing adoption of technologies to reduce pollutants, there is hope for further progress in improving Shanghai's air quality in the future.
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China's air pollution sources
China's air pollution is a major problem and poses a huge threat to public health. The sources of air pollution in China are varied, but the primary sources of particulates include the combustion of coal, fossil fuels burnt in vehicle engines, and general biomass combustion.
China's power stations emit considerably more pollution than those in other industrialised countries. This is mainly due to the lack of filtration systems in place for factory emissions. However, this is changing as more factories are required to retrofit flue-gas desulphurisation technology, which removes harmful sulphur dioxide (SO2) from fumes.
Coal is the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions and air pollutants in China, producing approximately 66% of the country's power. In 2014, China's coal usage was more than the rest of the world combined. The area around Beijing, Tianjin, and Hebei used 1.8 billion tons of coal that year. However, China has made progress in reducing its air pollution. Between 2013 and 2017, PM2.5 levels were reduced by 33% in at least 74 cities, and a further 10% the following year.
The Chinese government has encouraged the shift from coal to natural gas and has invested heavily in combating pollution. Over $277 billion was pledged by the Academy for Environmental Planning in 2013, and in 2012, cities began to adopt Environmental Air Quality Standards. As a result, PM2.5 and sulphur dioxide (SO2) levels dropped significantly between 2013 and 2018.
Other sources of air pollution in China include industry, transportation, and household solid fuel usage. The expanding population in large cities like Beijing and Shanghai also contributes to the problem. Beijing's population has risen from 11 million to 16 million in just seven years, and residents experienced "unhealthy" levels of pollution for ten months in 2019. Air pollution in China leads to about 2 million deaths per year, causing diseases such as stroke, heart disease, lung cancer, and respiratory infections.
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Air pollution's health impact
Air pollution in China is mainly caused by the combustion of coal, fossil fuels burnt in vehicle engines, and biomass combustion. In 2019, China ranked as the 11th dirtiest country in the world. Beijing, for instance, experienced "Moderate" levels of pollution for only two months in 2019, August and September. For the rest of the year, the air quality was classified as "Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups".
The health impacts of air pollution depend on the types, sources, and concentrations of pollutants in the air, as well as the duration of exposure and the health status of the affected populations. The main pathway of exposure is through the respiratory tract, leading to inflammation, oxidative stress, immunosuppression, and mutagenicity in cells throughout the body. This impacts the lungs, heart, and brain, among other organs, and can ultimately lead to disease.
Pregnant individuals and their fetuses, children, older adults, and people living with chronic conditions, especially heart and lung disease, may be more susceptible to the adverse health effects of air pollution. Additionally, people of color and those living in low-socioeconomic neighborhoods are more vulnerable to air pollution due to factors such as proximity to industrial sources, underlying health issues, poor nutrition, and stress.
In China, the government has been investing heavily to combat pollution, and cities have been adopting the Environmental Air Quality Standards, resulting in significant reductions in PM2.5 and sulphur dioxide (SO2) levels. Despite these efforts, air pollution remains a major public health concern in China, with emissions from power stations considerably higher than those in other industrialized countries.
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Government initiatives to reduce air pollution
China has been taking steps to combat air pollution, which has been a major problem in the country, posing a huge threat to public health. In 2019, China ranked as the 11th dirtiest country in the world, with Beijing experiencing "Moderate" levels of pollution for just two months in 2019, August and September. The rest of the year, the air quality was classified as “Unhealthy for Sensitive groups”.
The Chinese government has been investing heavily to combat pollution, with over $277 billion pledged by the Academy for Environmental Planning in 2013. In 2012, cities started adopting the Environmental Air Quality Standards, which proved effective as the recorded levels of PM2.5 and sulphur dioxide (SO2) dropped by 42 and 68% respectively between 2013 and 2018. This was partly due to the increased use of flue-gas desulphurisation technology in power plants, which removes most of the harmful sulphur dioxide (SO2) from fumes.
In 2013, the Chinese government launched a nationwide action plan to monitor air quality and collect data. This included a pilot project in Cangzhou City, which aimed to use big data to detect air pollution hotspots and inform enforcement officers via an app. The government has also provided subsidies to farmers to discourage agricultural burning.
China has also been transitioning to clean energy and reducing emissions. The Innovative Financing for Air Pollution Control in Jing-Jin-Ji Program was designed to support the implementation of the government's Air Pollution Control Action Plan, with a focus on controlling air pollutants at their source. This included improving energy efficiency, investing in clean energy, and tightening air pollution controls. For example, the program supported enterprises in reducing carbon emissions by 2.5 million tons per year, contributing to blue skies in the Jing-Jin-Ji region.
China has also been reducing coal consumption by improving energy efficiency in the industrial and building sectors and increasing the supply of renewable energy. Additionally, the country has been transitioning to electric mobility, with 99% of the world's 385,000 electric buses, and plans to increase this number to 600,000 by 2025. This has helped reduce air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.
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Frequently asked questions
In 2019, China's most polluted city was Hotan in Xinjiang province, with a recorded US Air Quality Index (AQI) figure of 179. Beijing is China's capital and has also suffered from high levels of air pollution. In 2023, 10 out of the 20 most polluted cities were in Henan Province.
Coal is the largest source of air pollutants in China, contributing to around 66% of the country's power. Emissions from power stations are also a major cause, with factory emissions previously not subjected to any filtration system before release. Other causes include population growth, poor public hygiene, and the burning of fossil fuels.
The Chinese government has been investing heavily to combat pollution, with over $277 billion pledged by the Academy for Environmental Planning in 2013. The government has also implemented policies to reduce coal consumption and shut down polluting mills, factories, and smelters. These policies have had some success, with a 23.6% decrease in PM2.5 in 74 key cities between 2013 and 2015.
