Helena Joyce
China has implemented various measures to combat its air pollution crisis, which has caused a public health emergency, killing over 1.1 million people annually. In 2013, China experienced its highest pollution levels, and the following year, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang declared a war against pollution, allocating substantial resources to combat pollution. China's actions include restricting the number of cars on the road, introducing electric buses, shutting down coal mines, investing in afforestation and reforestation programs, and implementing national air pollution action plans. These efforts have led to significant reductions in pollution levels and associated health risks, with air quality improving in major cities. However, challenges remain, and China continues to be the largest emitter of greenhouse gases.
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What You'll Learn
China's national carbon trading scheme
The scheme creates a carbon market where carbon emitters can buy and sell emission credits. Emitters can reduce their emissions or purchase emission allowances from other emitters. This allows China to limit emissions while maintaining economic freedom for emitters. The scheme is run by the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, which plans to eventually limit emissions from six of China's top carbon dioxide-emitting industries.
The national ETS was preceded by pilot programs in Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai, Chongqing, Hubei, Guangdong, and Shenzhen, which began in 2013. These pilots provided valuable data and experience for the design and implementation of the national scheme. The pilots had high compliance rates, with all programs exceeding 96% compliance.
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Reducing coal consumption
China's rapid industrialisation in the early 2000s led to a public outcry in the lead-up to the 2008 Beijing Olympics. The Chinese government responded by implementing a series of measures to curb coal consumption and reduce air pollution.
One of the key strategies employed was the introduction of scrubbers in coal power plants to curb the dirtiest emissions. This resulted in a significant 75% drop in sulphate emissions. China also shut down several coal-fired power plants and prohibited the construction of new ones, particularly in highly polluted regions such as the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei cluster and the Pearl and Yangtze Deltas.
In addition to targeting coal-fired power plants, China took steps to reduce coal consumption in other sectors. For example, the government offered subsidies to farmers to discourage agricultural burning, which is a significant source of air pollution. China also invested in renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar power, and promoted the use of electric vehicles to reduce carbon emissions.
The 12th Five-Year Plan, established in 2016, aimed to shift the economy away from heavy industry and resource-intensive manufacturing towards a more consumer-driven and resource-efficient economy. This plan included specific environmental goals, such as reducing carbon emissions per unit of GDP by 40-45% compared to 2005 levels and increasing the share of non-fossil fuels in primary energy consumption.
Despite these efforts, China continues to face challenges in reducing coal consumption and improving air quality. In 2023, coal use in China experienced a 2% increase, and the country remains the largest emitter of greenhouse gases. However, China has demonstrated its commitment to addressing these issues by setting ambitious targets, such as peaking emissions by 2030 and achieving net zero by 2060.
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Improving air quality with technology
China has implemented various measures to reduce pollution and improve air quality, with a focus on technology and data analytics.
In recent years, China has experienced severe air pollution, particularly in major cities such as Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou. The situation improved in the 2020s, but many Chinese cities still grapple with high air pollution readings. To combat this, China has introduced several national air pollution action plans and made significant investments in environmental programmes.
One notable example is the Air Pollution Action Plan released in September 2013, which helped China achieve significant improvements in air quality between 2013 and 2017. During this period, PM2.5 levels (atmospheric particulate matter) decreased by 33% in Beijing and 15% in the Pearl River Delta. This was followed by a Three-year Action Plan for Winning the Blue Sky War in 2018, which applied to all Chinese cities. These plans introduced measures such as regulating polluting activities, relocating factories from populated areas, and providing subsidies to farmers to discourage agricultural burning.
China has also focused on reducing emissions from coal-fired power plants, which are a major source of air pollution. The government prohibited the construction of new coal-fired power plants and shut down several old plants in highly polluted regions. Additionally, China has invested in renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar power, and has committed to phasing down coal use from 2026, with a net-zero target for 2060.
To further improve air quality, China has implemented restrictions on road transport, including promoting the use of electric vehicles and reducing the number of cars on the road. Cities like Shanghai, Shenzhen, and Guangzhou have introduced all-electric bus fleets. China also aims to increase freight cargo transport by rail and water, reducing the reliance on higher-polluting road transport.
China has also utilized technology and data analytics to tackle air pollution. A pilot project aims to harness big data to detect air pollution hotspots and send data to enforcement officers. Additionally, the country has invested in air quality monitoring technology, recognizing its importance in identifying areas requiring immediate action and enforcing policies.
While China's efforts to reduce air pollution have had positive outcomes, there are still challenges to be addressed. The country's progress in improving air quality has come with significant costs, such as leaving households without heat during winter due to the removal of coal boilers. As China continues its "war against pollution," it seeks to balance environmental sustainability with economic growth, utilizing technology and data-driven approaches to achieve its goals.
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The war on pollution
China's "war on pollution" was declared in 2014 by Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, who allocated substantial public resources to combat pollution. The country's strict policy action led to a swift reduction in pollution. From 2013 to 2020, particulate pollution in China declined by 39.6 percent, adding about two years to the average life expectancy.
China's pollution reduction efforts have had a significant impact on global warming, accounting for 80% of the increased rate since 2010. The country's clean-up of aerosol emissions, in particular, has contributed to a 5% increase in global temperatures since 1850.
To reduce pollution, China implemented a range of measures, including regulating polluting activities, relocating factories from populated areas, and providing subsidies to farmers to discourage agricultural burning. Large cities like Shanghai, Shenzhen, and Guangzhou restricted the number of cars on the road and introduced all-electric bus fleets. China also reduced its iron and steel-making capacity and shut down coal mines. The government introduced aggressive afforestation and reforestation programs, investing over $100 billion in such initiatives.
China's national carbon trading scheme, which started in 2021, is an intensity-based trading system for carbon dioxide emissions. This scheme creates a carbon market where emitters can buy and sell emission credits, allowing them to reduce emissions or purchase allowances. China has also set targets to peak emissions by 2030 and achieve net zero by 2060.
Despite these efforts, China still faces challenges in its battle against pollution. Beijing, for example, is still three times more polluted than Los Angeles, the most polluted major city in the United States. As China continues its "war on pollution," it seeks to balance pollution reduction with economic freedom for emitters, emphasizing market-based approaches to achieve sustainable progress.
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The impact of COVID-19
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on China's efforts to reduce pollution. While the country has made notable progress in recent years, the pandemic has both positively and negatively affected its environmental goals.
On the positive side, the pandemic led to a decrease in industrial and economic activities, resulting in improved air quality in major cities such as Wuhan, Beijing, Shanghai, and the Yangtze River Delta region. This was particularly evident during the nationwide lockdown in 2020, as seen in satellite images from NASA that showed a significant reduction in pollution levels. The Lunar New Year festival, which was extended due to the pandemic, also contributed to lower pollution levels, as China typically shuts down during the last week of January and into February.
However, the pandemic also disrupted China's long-term environmental goals. According to Lauri Myllyvirta of the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air, China's emissions reduction efforts went off track during the pandemic. By the end of 2024, the country had only achieved a 7.9% reduction in carbon intensity, short of its 18% target for the period between 2020 and 2025. As a result, China may need to implement more ambitious policies and goals to meet its target of peak emissions by 2030 and net zero by 2060.
The pandemic also highlighted the importance of clean energy alternatives. China has been transitioning towards cleaner energy sources, such as solar and wind power, and this shift has accelerated in recent years. Chinese companies now lead the world in manufacturing green technologies, including wind turbines and solar panels, and the country has invested heavily in research and development. This focus on clean energy has the potential to reduce China's reliance on heavily polluting coal plants and imported oil, improving both the environment and energy security.
Overall, the COVID-19 pandemic has had a mixed impact on China's pollution reduction efforts. While it led to temporary improvements in air quality due to reduced economic activity, it also disrupted long-term environmental goals and highlighted the need for more ambitious policies and a continued focus on clean energy alternatives.
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Frequently asked questions
China has implemented a series of Five-Year Plans to reduce pollution and mitigate climate change. The 13th Five-Year Plan, for instance, aimed to reduce carbon emissions, energy use, and water use.
China is the largest emitter of greenhouse gases, and its cities have struggled with severe air pollution. In addition, there are technical challenges to integrating solar energy into the power grid, and the country still relies heavily on coal.
China has introduced a national carbon trading scheme, invested in wind and solar power, promoted the use of electric vehicles, and implemented regulations to curb emissions from vehicles and factories. They have also shut down coal-fired power plants and relocated factories away from populated areas.
Yes, China has made significant progress in reducing pollution and improving air quality. Between 2013 and 2020, particulate pollution in China declined by 39.6%Beijing experienced a 55% decline in concentrations over seven years. However, China still has a long way to go to reach World Health Organization standards.
China's efforts to reduce pollution have resulted in improved health outcomes, with a decrease in deaths due to cardio and respiratory diseases. Additionally, the economic benefits of a cleaner environment include an annual savings of $37 billion in crop losses due to pollution.
