Greta Jimenez
China has been facing an unprecedented environmental health crisis, and the Chinese government has been taking several measures to combat the issue of pollution. In 2013, the government launched an anti-pollution campaign that focused on controlling PM2.5, deemed the most harmful particulate matter. China has also been working on reducing water consumption, improving air quality by cutting down on coal use and targeting fewer cars on the road, and adopting renewable energy sources. While China has made significant progress in improving its air and water quality, it still has a long way to go to meet the World Health Organization's guidelines and tackle other issues such as plastic waste and unsustainable fishing practices.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Air pollution control | The Chinese government has been working to reduce air pollution by targeting fewer cars on the road, cutting steel capacity, and banning coal-fired power plants in major urban areas. |
| The government has also encouraged the adoption of renewable energy sources and the switch from coal to cleaner-burning natural gas. | |
| China's state council has pledged to "strictly and reasonably" control total coal use and curb high-emissions projects. | |
| The government aims to cut the density of hazardous airborne particles (PM2.5) by 10% by 2025 compared to 2020 levels. | |
| Water pollution control | The Thirteenth Five Year Plan (13FYP) in 2016 set goals to reduce water consumption and improve water quality, including upgrading sewage facilities and increasing wastewater treatment. |
| The Chinese government is also addressing water pollution by reducing the use of chemical fertilisers and insecticides in agriculture. | |
| Solid waste management | China is the world's largest producer and exporter of plastic products, contributing significantly to plastic waste. |
| The government is working to increase recycling rates and manage plastic waste more effectively. | |
| Climate change mitigation | China has pledged to peak carbon emissions before 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality before 2060. |
| The government is focusing on reducing emissions from "dual-high" projects, which are industries with high energy consumption and emissions, such as steel, coal power, and chemicals. | |
| Foreign investment | China's foreign investment practices have been criticized for disregarding environmental safeguards and contributing to deforestation and land degradation. |
| The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has been accused of lacking clear environmental guidelines and leading to negative environmental consequences in host countries. |
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What You'll Learn
China's air pollution crisis
One of the key initiatives launched in 2013 was the National Air Quality Action Plan, which aimed to control PM2.5 particulate matter, known to be the most harmful. This campaign resulted in a 50% decrease in PM2.5 concentration from 2013 to 2019, with further improvements during the Covid era from 2020 to 2022. According to the University of Chicago, China has reduced air pollution by 41% in the decade through 2022, adding an estimated two years to the average citizen's life expectancy.
The Chinese government has set ambitious goals to continue this positive trajectory. By 2025, China aims to cut hazardous airborne particles (PM2.5) density by 10% compared to 2020 levels and keep the number of severely polluted days below 1%. To achieve this, the government plans to develop new and clean energy sources, increase natural gas production, and curb high-energy consumption and high-emissions projects. This includes reducing coal consumption in specific regions, such as the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei area and the Yangtze River Delta, by about 10%.
However, it is important to recognize that challenges remain. China's overall pollution levels are still 5.6 times higher than the World Health Organization's guidelines, and there has been a recent rebound in PM2.5 levels in 2023 after a decade of decline. Additionally, other pollutants like ozone (O3) are on the rise, and China is the world's leading generator of plastic waste, with about 13% of its domestic plastic waste polluting the environment.
Despite these ongoing issues, China's efforts to improve air quality have shown notable progress, and the country now boasts the fastest air quality improvement worldwide. The success of China's anti-pollution campaigns and policies has resulted in blue skies returning to major cities, and the country continues to work towards its goal of carbon neutrality by 2060.
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Reducing PM2.5 particulates
China has made significant progress in reducing PM2.5 concentrations. Between 2013 and 2019, the average PM2.5 concentration dropped by 50%, from 72 micrograms per cubic meter (μg/m³) to 36 μg/m³. By 2022, the average annual concentration in 339 major Chinese cities further decreased to 29 μg/m³, with an increasing number of days classified as having good air quality. However, this still falls short of the WHO standard of 5 μg/m³.
To further reduce PM2.5 levels, China has implemented several measures. These include controlling coal use, curbing high-emission projects, and promoting new and clean energy sources. For instance, the country aims to reduce coal consumption in specific regions, such as the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei area and the Yangtze River Delta region. Additionally, China plans to increase natural gas production and discourage projects with high energy consumption and emissions.
While these actions have contributed to improved air quality, it is important to note that PM2.5 levels rebounded in 2023 after a decade of decline, emphasizing the need for continued efforts and policies to combat pollution. China's State Council has recognized this challenge and released an action plan in 2023 to "strictly and reasonably" control total coal use and curb high-emission projects, demonstrating the government's commitment to addressing the issue.
Overall, China's efforts to reduce PM2.5 particulates have shown progress, but continued dedication to implementing and enforcing policies is necessary to ensure sustained improvements in air quality and public health.
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Action on water pollution
Water security is a pressing issue in China, with challenges arising from water scarcity, uneven distribution of water resources, and poor water quality. The Chinese government has implemented several measures to tackle water pollution, recognizing the importance of safe drinking water for public health.
In 2015, China's State Council released the Water Pollution Prevention and Control Action Plan, aiming for improved water quality by 2030. This plan addresses the critical issue of water pollution from industrial wastewater, domestic sewage, agricultural pesticides and manure, which have contaminated both surface water and groundwater sources. The National People's Congress also made significant revisions to the Water Pollution Prevention and Control Law in 2018, reflecting the government's commitment to updating legislation in this area.
The Nature Conservancy (TNC) in China is actively involved in improving water security. They utilize water funds to engage downstream investors, primarily large businesses and government agencies, in supporting upstream land conservation and restoration. TNC has backed three pilot projects, including water funds for the Longwu Reservoir and Qiandao Lake in Zhejiang Province, and the Dongjiang River watershed in Guangdong Province, which provide drinking water for millions of residents.
Despite these efforts, water scarcity and pollution persist as grave issues in China. The country's rapid socioeconomic development and urbanization have exacerbated the complexity of its water environment. China's water resources are estimated at 2,000 cubic meters per capita, only a quarter of the global average. Furthermore, in 2018, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment reported that 6.9% of China's surface water in river basins was "Below Grade V" quality, rendering it unfit for any use. The Hai River basin, including major industrial areas, was identified as the most polluted, with over half of its surface water unsuitable for drinking.
Climate change further complicates water security in China, impacting the hydrological cycle and exacerbating water scarcity and pollution. Surveillance data from the National Health Commission of China revealed that 18.9% of reported infectious diseases in 2018 were waterborne.
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Plastic pollution and waste
Plastic pollution is a major issue in China, which is the world's biggest producer, consumer, and exporter of plastics. The country consumes at least one-fifth of the world's plastics and is responsible for a large share of global greenhouse emissions, largely due to its massive local plastic production. China's plastic waste generation was approximately 6.3 billion tons as of 2015, with 12% incinerated, 79% buried, and only 9% recycled.
The Chinese government has implemented several measures to tackle plastic pollution and waste. In 2020, China passed the "Law of the People's Republic of China on the Prevention and Control of Environmental Pollution by Solid Wastes," which prohibits and restricts the production, sale, and use of non-degradable plastic bags and other disposable plastic products. This law also requires the reporting of the use and recycling of plastic bags and other disposable plastic products in commercial and post-consumption activities. Additionally, China has introduced a plan for 2021-2025 that aims to improve the management of the entire chain of plastic pollution, including phasing out single-use plastics, cutting plastic production, reducing plastic waste in landfills, and boosting recycling efforts. The government is pushing retail, e-commerce, and delivery businesses to reduce the use of disposable plastic packaging and increase the use of reusable boxes.
China has also issued the Plastic Pollution Control Action Plan (2021-2025) to strengthen the whole-chain control of plastic pollution. By 2025, the country aims to have effective management systems for the production, circulation, consumption, recycling, and disposal of plastic products, with improved efficiency in plastic waste collection and transfer. The plan also includes targets for plastic use reduction, such as banning the production and sale of disposable foamed plastic tableware and plastic swabs, and prohibiting the production of daily chemical products containing plastic microbeads.
Furthermore, China has diversified its regulatory instruments for governing plastics, with a focus on prohibitive bans and information campaigns. The country has also shown interest in economic policy instruments and incentives for plastic pollution control. The National Development and Reform Commission and the Ministry of Ecology and Environment of China issued the "Opinions on Further Strengthening the Prevention and Control of Plastic Pollution" in 2020, calling for a gradual phase-out of non-degradable plastics and improvements in the production, consumption, recycling, and disposal mechanisms for plastic products.
In addition to these measures, China has also banned the import of most plastic waste since 2017, impacting global environmental sustainability. The country has also implemented clean-up action plans, such as the Action Plan for Water Pollution Prevention and Control issued in 2015, which reference the removal of waste, including plastic waste. Fujian province specifically addressed marine waste clean-up in its 2020 action plan.
To enhance the effectiveness of these measures, China should focus on upstream policy interventions and increase public awareness and education about environmental issues. Despite the progress made, more comprehensive and systematic measures are needed to eliminate plastic pollution in China.
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Carbon emissions and neutrality
China is the world's largest producer and consumer of coal, which covers 60% of its electricity demand. In 2021, the Chinese government ordered factories to increase production capacity, resulting in a tripling of new coal power capacity compared to the rest of the world combined. China's CO2 emissions that year reached nearly 12 billion tonnes, accounting for 33% of the global total.
In October 2021, the Chinese central government issued "working guidance" on plans to peak carbon emissions and achieve carbon neutrality. This laid the foundation for China's "'1+N' climate policy system", which will provide political guidance for decarbonisation efforts. President Xi Jinping pledged in 2020 that China would peak carbon emissions before 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality before 2060. However, investment in coal-based steelmaking continues, and some analysts argue that this is inconsistent with the country's 2060 carbon neutrality target.
China's economy is classified as "socialism with Chinese characteristics", and the Communist Party of China governs the State Council (central government) and over 30 other jurisdictions. The Chinese government has demonstrated strong autonomy in policymaking and the ability to transmit pressures down to lower hierarchy levels to address environmental issues. For example, in 2016, the Thirteenth Five-Year Plan (13FYP) set specific goals for water consumption and quality, aiming to reduce water consumption by 23% from 2015 levels by 2020. By 2020, most of the key targets had been met and exceeded, with the construction of over 39,000 new sewage treatment facilities.
China has also made efforts to improve air quality, with the average annual concentration of PM2.5 in 339 major Chinese cities falling to 29 μg/m³ in 2022. The government plans to cut hazardous airborne particles (PM2.5) by 10% by 2025 compared to 2020 levels and keep severe pollution days to less than 1%. Measures include developing new and clean energy, increasing natural gas production, and curbing high-emissions projects. China's success in reducing pollution has contributed to a decline in global pollution levels, according to a University of Chicago study.
However, China's overall air pollution levels remain unhealthy, and its plastic production and waste management practices contribute to global plastic pollution. China is the world's largest producer and exporter of plastic products, with about 13% of its domestic plastic waste released directly into the environment. The Yangtze River has become one of the biggest sources of plastic pollution globally, and China's fishing practices place increased pressure on global fish stocks.
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Frequently asked questions
The Chinese government has implemented various measures to improve air quality and reduce pollution. This includes the National Air Quality Action Plan, which targets reducing cars on the road, cutting steel capacity, and banning coal-fired power plants in major urban areas. The government is also encouraging the adoption of renewable energy sources and the development of smart cities. In addition, China plans to control total coal use and curb high-emission projects, with a target to reduce coal consumption in certain regions.
The Chinese government introduced the Thirteenth Five Year Plan (13FYP) in 2016, which set goals for water consumption and quality. The plan aimed to reduce water consumption by 23% from 2015 levels by 2020, and included upgrading sewage facilities and increasing wastewater treatment rates. The government has also been working to reduce agricultural pollution by encouraging farmers to use fewer chemical fertilisers and insecticides.
China is the world's largest producer and exporter of plastic products, and plastic waste is a significant issue. While the government has not implemented a comprehensive ban on illegal timber imports, it has been encouraging the adoption of renewables and recycling initiatives. However, only about 17% of plastic waste is recycled, and China holds around 20% of the global share of mismanaged plastic waste.
