Meghan Hodges
China has the world's largest continuous emissions monitoring system, which has been in place since 2005. The system includes the use of measuring equipment in sectors such as steel, cement, energy, and waste incineration, as well as automated monitoring of air, water, and noise pollution. China's pollution problem has been well-documented, with seven of the ten most air-polluted cities in the world located in China as of 2013. The country has been working to improve its pollution monitoring and control efforts, especially regarding medical waste, hazardous materials, and solid waste disposal. China's advanced air quality monitoring system has led to improved local air quality, but there are concerns about localized pollution control approaches that may inflate the effectiveness of pollution reduction efforts.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Channels for citizens to report environmental violations | Weibo, government hotline, messages to government officials or firms |
| Continuous emissions monitoring | Real-time tracking of the concentration and emission rates of pollutants, including sulphur dioxide, nitrous oxide, and particulates |
| Installation of measuring equipment | Thermal power, steel, cement, energy, and waste-incineration sectors |
| Automated monitoring | Air and water pollutants, noise emissions |
| Air pollution control transmission corridors | 12 west-east corridors |
| Air pollution reduction targets | 25% reduction in PM2.5 in Beijing from 2012 to 2017 |
| Air quality monitoring system | Advanced, with improvements in local air quality |
| Performance | 39% increase in management and control of harmful and toxic chemicals from 2019 to 2021 |
| Solid waste ban | 24 categories of solid waste banned as of 1 January 2018 |
| Plastic waste import ban | Contamination level above 0.05% as of 1 January 2018 |
| Most polluted cities | Tianjin, Chongqing, Shenyang, Taiyuan, Beijing, Urumqi, Lanzhou, Jinan, and Shijiazhuang |
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What You'll Learn
China's continuous emissions monitoring system
China has the world's largest continuous emissions monitoring system, which it started building in 2007. The system is designed to provide direct, real-time, continuous measurements of pollutant concentrations by automatically sampling, analysing, compiling, and storing pollutant concentration data.
The country's continuous emissions monitoring system (CEMS) is a network of devices that measure and report the real-time emission of air pollutants. The system comprises sampling, conditioning, and analytical components, as well as software that analyses representative samples of flue gas.
In 2005, the State Environmental Protection Administration (SEPA), a precursor to the Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE), issued "Measures on the administration of pollution sources monitoring" and related documents. This led to the installation of measuring equipment in the steel, cement, energy, and waste-incineration sectors, as well as the implementation of automated monitoring of water pollutants and noise emissions.
Since 2013, China's key polluting firms have been required to install CEMS and publish the data for real-time oversight and public scrutiny. However, the data quality of CEMS in China has been a concern, and it is rarely used in local environmental law enforcement. To improve data quality, China has implemented several policy actions, including developing detailed specifications and technical guidelines, conducting random inspections, and comparing monitoring values among emission sources.
The Chinese Industrial Emissions Database (CIED) is a nationwide database that utilises real smokestack concentrations from China's CEMS network during 2015–2018 to enhance the estimation accuracy of industrial emission factors and absolute emissions. This hourly, source-level data avoids the use of assumptions and indirect parameters that are common in existing research.
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Citizen help and social media appeals
China has set up various channels for citizens to report environmental violations, forcing local regulators to step up enforcement. Researchers from the University of Chicago found that appeals to Chinese regulators via social media can reduce emissions violations by companies and bring down levels of air and water pollution. The team recruited volunteers to file public appeals for action to local regulators via the social media platform Weibo, and private appeals via a government hotline or messages to government officials or firms. The researchers received 1,161 official responses from nearly 3,000 appeals. Weibo appeals resulted in improved environmental performance by companies, as did the private ones, but to a lesser degree.
In a similar experiment, researchers from Stanford University found that public appeals on social media reduced factory emissions violations by 62% and emissions concentrations by between 3.7% and 12.2%, depending on the pollutant measured. Private appeals directly to regulators caused only marginal declines in emissions violations and concentrations. When the visibility of the social media appeals was increased by adding 'likes' and 'shares', the government regulators were 40% more likely to reply and 65% more likely to inspect the polluting plants mentioned in the complaint.
Another study by the University of Chicago found that citizen monitoring of waterways decreases pollution in China by supporting government action and oversight. Petitions to local governments for remediation might increase with public knowledge of poor water quality. With more regular information about water quality, higher-level governments may enforce standards more stringently, or local officials might speed up and maintain remediation efforts to advance their careers or avoid penalties.
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The State Environmental Protection Administration
SEPA played a crucial role in campaigning against deforestation, curbing excessive water use, and promoting decarbonization. In 2006, SEPA opened five regional centers to facilitate local inspections and enforcement. During this period, China experienced a significant increase in environmental complaints, with over 2.53 million letters and 430,000 visits related to environmental concerns between 2001 and 2005.
In March 2008, the State Environmental Protection Administration was officially replaced by the Ministry of Environmental Protection (MEP) during the National People's Congress sessions in Beijing. The MEP continued to implement environmental protection measures, such as shutting down a significant percentage of Chinese factories and administering pollutant trading programs.
In 2018, as part of institutional reforms, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE) was established, replacing the MEP. The MEE is responsible for pollution control, ecosystem conservation, formulating environmental standards, conducting environmental impact assessments, and addressing climate change, among other duties. It has 12 offices and departments that carry out regulatory tasks and ensure the agency's functioning. The MEE has continued to propose initiatives to monitor and reduce emissions, such as CO2 emission monitoring pilots in the thermal power industry.
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Air pollution in Chinese cities
Air pollution is a significant issue in Chinese cities, with the air quality frequently reaching hazardous levels. The problem is caused by a range of factors, including coal-fired power plants, the increasing number of vehicles in cities, and coal-fired heating systems in northern Chinese cities. Beijing, in particular, faces challenges due to its hilly surroundings, which can trap pollution when there is little wind.
To address these concerns, China has implemented various measures. The country has the world's largest continuous emissions monitoring system, which tracks pollutants like sulphur dioxide, nitrous oxide, and particulate matter. This system was introduced in the 1980s and has since expanded to cover various industries, including steel, cement, energy, and waste incineration. Key polluting enterprises are required to install, use, and maintain equipment specific to the pollutants they emit, connecting their data to the Ministry of Ecology and Environment's (MEE) online platform.
In addition to government efforts, Chinese citizens have actively participated in environmental governance. Researchers from the University of Chicago found that appeals to regulators via social media platforms like Weibo can reduce emissions violations and improve companies' environmental performance. This "people power" approach has been instrumental in holding companies accountable and reducing air pollution levels.
China has also invested significant financial resources into tackling this issue. Between 2013 and 2017, the government invested ¥1.7 trillion Yuan (£180 billion) to clean up power stations and traffic fumes, with plans to further increase energy consumption from non-fossil fuel sources. The country has set ambitious targets to reduce airborne particulate matter (PM2 and PM10) by at least 10% in major cities by 2017.
Despite these efforts, air pollution remains a challenge. In 2018, 79 Chinese cities triggered air pollution alerts due to severe winter smog. Beijing and other cities in the Yangtze River Delta region, including Shanghai, continue to experience high levels of air pollution. The Chinese government and citizens alike recognize the urgency of addressing this issue and are working towards cleaner, healthier cities.
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China's green development and waste disposal
China has the world's largest continuous emissions monitoring system, which allows for the real-time tracking of pollutant concentrations and emission rates of pollutants, including sulphur dioxide, nitrous oxide, and particulates. This system is key for tracking and managing companies' emissions and provides an important basis for environmental enforcement. The country has also set up various channels for citizens to report environmental violations, forcing local regulators to step up enforcement.
China's waste management system is rapidly evolving and undergoing technological transformation. The country is the largest developing nation experiencing rapid urban growth, with an urbanization rate of over 60% in 2019. This rapid urbanization has resulted in a tremendous rise in the amount of municipal solid waste (MSW) generated. In 2019, the domestic MSW delivery quantity reached 242 million tons, 30 times higher than in 1949. This waste is predominantly managed through landfill and incineration, with the latter expected to increase significantly in the coming years.
To address the challenges posed by the increasing MSW and its environmental impacts, Chinese authorities have implemented policies to enhance waste source recycling and energy recovery. The revised law for the prevention and control of MSW environmental pollution proposed the national implementation of MSW sorting. In 2019, 11 cities were designated as pilot projects for zero-waste cities, promoting green lifestyles and minimizing waste disposal's environmental impacts.
The country has also adopted a "polluter pays" principle, making those who produce waste responsible for its recycling and disposal. This approach has been successful in fostering waste separation and reducing residual MSW through higher recovery rates for recyclable materials. Additionally, China is investing in research and development on carbon capture and utilization (CCU) to meet its CO2 emission reduction targets and generate value from waste incineration plants.
Overall, China is making significant strides towards green development and waste disposal, with a focus on reducing greenhouse gas emissions, promoting recycling, and improving waste management technologies.
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Frequently asked questions
China has over 5000 air quality monitoring stations that provide real-time information on six types of air pollutants. These stations are managed by state, provincial, municipal, and county-level governments. Central monitors are typically located in cleaner areas, while local monitors are placed in more polluted regions.
The monitoring stations track six types of airborne pollutants: particulate matter (PM) 2.5, PM10, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, ozone, and carbon monoxide.
The advanced air quality monitoring system has led to improvements in local air quality. However, there is evidence that local governments have engaged in strategic cleaning measures near the monitors to meet pollution control targets.
China has established various channels for citizens to report environmental violations, empowering them to hold local regulators accountable. Citizen appeals through social media platforms like Weibo have been found to improve companies' environmental performance.
The online monitoring system provides real-time data on pollutant levels, allowing individuals, firms, and governments to make informed decisions. It also retains historical data, which can be used as evidence for penalties, reviews, and litigation.
