Brian Barton
In March 2014, China's Premier Li Keqiang declared a war on pollution, acknowledging that pollution is a significant crisis in the country. This declaration was made at the annual meeting of parliament, with the government presenting detailed measures to address what had become a pressing social issue. The war on pollution aimed to tackle air, water, and soil pollution, with a focus on reducing hazardous particulate matter and eliminating outdated energy production methods. While China has made notable improvements, particularly in reducing air pollution, the levels still exceed global and national standards, indicating that the battle against pollution is ongoing.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year | 2014 |
| Who | Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang |
| Where | At the annual CCP conference |
| Aim | To tackle air, water, and soil pollution |
| Strategies | Reforming energy pricing, boosting non-fossil fuel power, reducing hazardous particulate matter, eliminating outdated energy producers, banning the construction of coal-fired power plants, reducing the number of cars on the road, tackling agricultural pollution, converting farmland to forest and grassland |
| Results | Air pollution decreased across China's most populated areas, with cities cutting concentrations of fine particulates (PM2.5) by 32% in four years |
| Challenges | Pollution levels, especially air pollution, remain above WHO standards, and progress could be fragile |
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What You'll Learn
China's pollution levels
China declared a "war on pollution" in 2014, with Premier Li Keqiang acknowledging that pollution was the country's major problem. Since then, China has made significant progress in reducing air pollution.
In 2013, China's Academy for Environmental Planning pledged $277 billion to combat urban air pollution. In 2016, only 84 out of 338 prefecture-level cities attained the national standard for air quality. By 2018, those 338 cities enjoyed good air quality on 79% of days. The amount of harmful particulates in the air in China fell by 40% from 2013 to 2020, with average PM2.5 concentrations falling by 33% from 2013 to 2017 in 74 cities. The overall pollution in China fell by a further 10% between 2017 and 2018.
In August 2019, Beijing experienced its lowest PM2.5 on record—a low of 23 micrograms per cubic meter. This was attributed to millions of homes and businesses switching from coal to natural gas, afforestation measures, and the reduction of coal-fired power plants. China is also the world's largest producer of electric cars.
Despite these improvements, China's pollution levels still exceed global and national standards. Practically all (99.9%) of China's 1.4 billion people live in areas where the annual average particulate pollution level exceeds the World Health Organization (WHO) guideline of 5 µg/m³. If current pollution levels persist, China stands to lose 3.6 billion total life years. However, if pollution reductions are sustained, residents' lifespans could be extended by 2.4 years on average, and by up to 5.3 years in certain areas.
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The war on pollution
China's war on pollution began in March 2014 when Prime Minister Li Keqiang declared war on pollution at the annual CCP conference. This declaration was made in response to the country's struggle with smog and hazardous levels of air pollution, which had become a social issue and a concern for the government.
Li Keqiang acknowledged that pollution was a major problem in China, stating that it was "nature's red-light warning against inefficient and blind development." He promised to tackle the issue with the same determination as the war against poverty, focusing on reducing hazardous particulate matter and eliminating outdated energy producers. The government unveiled detailed measures to address the problem, including reforms in energy pricing, the development of nuclear and renewable energy sources, and the promotion of green and low-carbon technology.
In the years following the declaration, China made significant progress in reducing air pollution. An analysis by Michael Greenstone, a professor in economics and director of the Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago, found that cities had cut concentrations of fine particulates (PM2.5) by 32% in just four years. Greenstone's research also revealed that if pollution reductions were sustained, Chinese residents could expect their lifespans to increase by an average of 2.4 years.
Despite these improvements, China's pollution levels, especially air pollution, remain above World Health Organization (WHO) standards. In 2020, it was estimated that 99% of China's 1.4 billion inhabitants lived in areas where the average annual concentration of fine particles exceeded WHO recommendations. The Chinese government has continued to prioritize economic development, and stimulating local economic growth has made maintaining environmental protection efforts challenging.
However, China has taken aggressive measures to combat pollution, including prohibiting new coal-fired power plants in polluted regions and removing coal boilers from homes and businesses. While the war on pollution is ongoing, China's efforts have led to notable improvements in air quality, and the country remains committed to addressing this critical issue.
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Reducing hazardous particulate matter
China declared a war on pollution in March 2014, with Prime Minister Li Keqiang acknowledging that pollution is the country's major problem. Since then, China has made significant strides in improving its air quality, particularly in reducing hazardous particulate matter.
Fine particulate matter, or PM2.5, refers to particulate matter with a diameter of 2.5 micrometres or less. It is widely considered the deadliest form of air pollution and is responsible for millions of premature deaths globally. Reducing PM2.5 exposure is crucial for protecting public health and reducing acute health risks.
To address this issue, China has implemented aggressive air pollution control policies and taken extraordinary measures. These include prohibiting new coal-fired power plants in polluted regions and removing coal boilers from homes and businesses. China has also focused on reducing emissions from solid fuel combustion in residential stoves, which is the most toxic source of PM2.5. Replacing household solid fuels with clean alternatives could prevent an additional 0.51 million premature deaths.
In addition, China has encouraged the use of personal protective measures such as air purification devices and masks. Studies have shown that wearing masks, particularly N95 masks, in heavily polluted weather can effectively reduce PM2.5 exposure and associated health hazards.
Furthermore, China has invested in research and innovation to better understand the relationship between air pollution and health. This includes conducting extensive studies on the acute health risks of PM2.5 pollution and developing strategies to reduce exposure for the general public, including patients.
While China has made remarkable progress in reducing hazardous particulate matter, challenges remain. China's average PM2.5 concentration is still above the World Health Organization's guidelines, and further emission reductions are necessary to achieve significant health benefits and comply with national and global standards.
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Reforming energy pricing
On March 5, 2014, China declared a war on pollution, acknowledging that pollution is the country's major problem. The government unveiled detailed measures to tackle what had become a hot-button social issue.
One of the measures was to reform energy pricing by changing the way energy is consumed and produced. This included the development of nuclear and renewables, the deployment of smart power transmission grids, and the promotion of green and low-carbon technology.
To reform and integrate China's electricity sector, the government initiated a new round of market-oriented reforms in 2015. The aim was to enhance power system efficiency through a market-based resource allocation mechanism. This approach has been characterized as planning-based because the government still plays a dominant role in investment, production, and pricing decisions.
The benefits of integrating provincial electricity markets in China include improving industrial efficiency, promoting renewable energy development, and reducing carbon emissions. However, conflicts and tensions may arise from uneven cost and benefit redistributions among different stakeholders. To foster successful reform, it is necessary to understand the effects of market reform on efficiency gains, carbon emissions, and benefit distributions and how these effects are influenced by different institutional arrangements of inter-provincial trades.
China has also established a national carbon trading market that covers the electricity sector. This market is critical in achieving China's carbon neutrality target. The effectiveness of this market depends on its evolution into a more integrated market.
In addition to market-based approaches, China has also implemented regulations such as pollution taxes and cap-and-trade markets for pollution. These measures have helped China make significant progress in reducing air pollution and improving the health of its citizens.
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Agricultural pollution
In March 2014, China declared a "war on pollution", acknowledging that pollution is the country's major problem. Since then, China has made significant strides in reducing air pollution, with cities cutting down concentrations of fine particulates (PM2.5) by 32% in just four years.
Causes of Agricultural Pollution in China
China faces the challenge of feeding its large and growing population with limited arable land and water resources. This has led to intensive agriculture, which relies heavily on synthetic nitrogen fertilizers, pesticides, and organic manures to achieve high crop yields. However, this agro-chemical-based approach has contributed to environmental and health issues:
- Water Pollution: Excessive use of nitrogen fertilizers and pesticides has led to agricultural non-point source (NPS) pollution, with pollutants like nitrogen, phosphorus, pesticides, and heavy metals entering water bodies. Surveys in the Yangtze River Economic Belt and North China found high levels of nitrate-N in drinking water wells, exceeding safe limits.
- Soil Contamination: Heavy metal contamination of soils due to agro-chemicals has been a concern, impacting crop quality and food safety.
- Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Agro-chemical-intensive farming has substantially contributed to the emission of powerful greenhouse gases, CH4 and N2O.
Measures to Address Agricultural Pollution
China has implemented measures to prevent and control agricultural pollution, especially in the Yangtze River Economic Belt, a region with serious non-point source pollution issues:
- Pollution Control Policy: Since 2015, China has focused on reducing N loss (storage), with a 18.22% decrease in N loss from 2015 to 2019.
- 3S Technology: China has employed 3S technology (Remote Sensing, Global Positioning System, and Geographic Information System) to identify and regulate high-risk areas for pollution more effectively.
- Mitigation Strategies: Suggested strategies include correcting fertilizer price distortions, improving incentives for organic manure recycling, educating farmers on agro-chemical use, and tightening regulations on organic waste disposal and pesticide use.
- Sustainable Practices: Since the 1960s, China has shifted towards sustainable agricultural practices, developing new techniques and integrated resource management practices to mitigate intensive farming's adverse effects.
- Water Management: Given that agriculture accounts for 63% of national water use, managing water resources in agriculture is crucial. This includes controlling pollution, improving water use efficiency, and exploring trade options.
While China has made progress in its war on pollution, sustaining these efforts and implementing market-based approaches to regulation will be essential to further reducing pollution and improving the health and longevity of its citizens.
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Frequently asked questions
China declared war on pollution in 2014.
The Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang announced the war on pollution.
The war on pollution included a series of policies and plans aimed at reducing all manner of contaminants, including emissions, sewage, and garbage, in various environments, such as air, water, and soil.
The war on pollution has shown positive results, with air pollution decreasing across China's most populated areas. Cities have cut concentrations of fine particulates (PM2.5) by 32%, leading to potential improvements in the overall health and life expectancy of residents. However, pollution levels still exceed global and national standards, and the war on pollution is ongoing.
China declared war on pollution in response to the urgent need to address the country's significant environmental problems, particularly air pollution, which had become a hot-button social issue and a threat to public health and stability.
