China's Air Pollution: Who's Take And The Way Forward

China's air pollution problem has been well-documented, with the country being the world's leading annual emitter of greenhouse gases and mercury. This has had a significant impact on both China and the world, causing approximately 2 million deaths in China per year and contributing to global warming. China has made efforts to combat this issue, such as launching an anti-pollution campaign in 2013 and aiming to eliminate severe air pollution by the end of 2025. While some progress has been made, air pollution remains a major problem in the country. The World Health Organization (WHO) has been active in addressing air pollution in China, working to disseminate accurate information and address false media reports. Dobri Genchev, a WHO representative, has been involved in these efforts, particularly in addressing indoor air pollution, which is largely caused by the burning of solid fuels for cooking or heating.

China's air pollution harms its citizens and the world

China's air pollution is a pressing issue that significantly impacts both its citizens and the world. The country has been grappling with poor air quality due to rapid industrialisation, which has had dire consequences for public health and the environment. The leading contributors to air pollution in China include industry, transportation, coal power plants, and household solid fuel usage.

The harmful effects of China's air pollution on its citizens are profound. Fine particles in polluted air can penetrate deep into the lungs and cardiovascular system, causing various diseases, including stroke, heart disease, lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and respiratory infections. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), air pollution is responsible for about 2 million deaths in China annually. Of these fatalities, ambient air pollution accounts for over 1 million deaths, while household air pollution from the use of polluting fuels and technologies causes another million deaths. The Global Burden of Disease study found that ambient PM2.5 pollution, the most harmful type of particulate matter, led to approximately 1.4 million premature deaths in China in 2019.

China's air pollution also has far-reaching consequences for the world. As the leading annual emitter of greenhouse gases and mercury, China's poor air quality threatens global health and the world's economy. The country's efforts to tackle air pollution have inadvertently contributed to a surge in global warming. Researchers have found that China's success in reducing air pollution, specifically the removal of sulphate aerosols, has resulted in a 5% increase in global temperatures since 1850. While China's actions to curb pollution are necessary and commendable, the unintended consequences highlight the complex interplay between air quality regulations and climate change.

Recognising the urgency of the situation, China has demonstrated a strong commitment to combating air pollution. In 2013, the country launched an anti-pollution campaign that successfully reduced PM2.5 concentrations by 50% from 2013 to 2019. During the Covid era, China made further progress in improving air quality, and this trend continued in 2024, with a year-on-year decrease in PM2.5 concentrations. China aims to effectively eliminate severe air pollution by the end of 2025, focusing on enhancing air quality forecasting, early warning systems, and managing harmful airborne particles.

While China's efforts to address air pollution are commendable, it is important to acknowledge that challenges remain. The overall PM2.5 levels in China rebounded in 2023, underscoring the need for sustained action and the implementation of new emission standards. China's battle against air pollution is far from over, and continued dedication to reducing pollution, along with global collaboration, will be crucial in mitigating the harmful impacts on both its citizens and the world.

WHO's commitment to accurate information dissemination

The World Health Organization (WHO) is committed to providing accurate and scientifically sound information to the public regarding health issues, including air pollution in China. In a media statement released on May 5, 2018, WHO addressed false reporting by certain media outlets that disseminated erroneous and misleading information. WHO clarified that it had not attended the Global Indoor Air Pollution and Human Health Seminar in Beijing and that the statements attributed to its expert representative were inaccurate. WHO is dedicated to ensuring the public has accurate information to make informed decisions about their health and reserves its legal rights against those who misrepresent the organization.

WHO recognizes the severity of air pollution in China, which has detrimental effects on both Chinese citizens and the world. According to WHO, air pollution causes approximately 2 million deaths in China annually, with ambient air pollution and household air pollution each accounting for 1 million deaths. The organization emphasizes the health risks associated with exposure to fine particles in polluted air, leading to diseases such as stroke, heart disease, lung cancer, and respiratory infections.

China has made significant efforts to combat air pollution, particularly through anti-pollution campaigns focused on reducing PM2.5 particulate matter. These campaigns have resulted in a 50% decrease in PM2.5 concentrations between 2013 and 2019. However, China's success in reducing air pollution has inadvertently contributed to a surge in global warming, as the removal of sulphate aerosols from the atmosphere has eliminated a cooling effect. This discovery highlights the complex relationship between air quality regulations and their impact on the climate.

Despite China's progress, air pollution remains a pressing issue, affecting economies and people's quality of life. WHO's commitment to accurate information dissemination is evident in its regular updates on China's air quality and the effectiveness of pollution control measures. The organization provides data and analysis to support its statements, ensuring transparency and reliability in its reporting. WHO's efforts to combat air pollution in China extend beyond information dissemination, as it also collaborates with local authorities and provides guidance on improving air quality and protecting public health.

China's anti-pollution campaign in 2013

China's war against air pollution has been a long and arduous battle. Since the early 2000s, China has been facing a rapid deterioration of air quality due to industrialization. This problem came to a head in the lead-up to the 2008 Beijing Olympics, with the international community expressing concern. As a result, China began to implement measures to curb emissions, including fitting scrubbers to coal power plants and tightening vehicle exhaust rules, which led to a significant 75% drop in sulphate emissions.

However, the battle was far from over, and in 2013, China launched a comprehensive anti-corruption campaign to tackle social corruption and protect its citizens' health. This campaign, led by Xi Jiping, included measures such as anonymous reporting channels, public disclosure of corruption, and the "Plan on Supervision and Inspection of Environmental Protection". The anti-corruption drive was expected to have a strong and sincere commitment to combating corruption, which had previously hindered environmental protection policies.

The results of these anti-corruption efforts were significant. Studies indicate that China's anti-corruption campaign reduced air pollution levels by 20.3%. This was achieved through increased environmental regulations and economic development, addressing the close connection between corruption and air pollution. The success of these measures contributed to a notable decline in fine particulate air pollution (PM2.5) since 2014, with pollution levels down by 41% compared to 2013.

China's efforts to improve air quality have had a significant impact on global smog levels. Between 2013 and 2020, China's actions reduced harmful particulates in the air by 40%, contributing to a potential increase in average life expectancy for its citizens. China's success in this regard serves as a strong indication of the opportunities for other nations to implement effective pollution policies. However, despite this progress, air pollution remains a critical issue in China, with annual average particulate pollution levels still exceeding WHO guidelines, impacting the health and quality of life for millions.

China's efforts to clean up air pollution

China's air pollution has had a significant impact on its citizens and the world. It is the leading annual emitter of greenhouse gases and mercury, causing approximately 1.24 million deaths in 2017 alone due to air pollution, according to The Lancet. The country has made notable efforts to address this issue, and while there has been some progress, air pollution remains a pressing concern.

One of China's significant initiatives to tackle air pollution was the introduction of the Air Pollution Action Plan in 2013, which became the country's most influential environmental policy. This plan targeted the reduction of PM2.5 levels, a primary pollutant, in major city clusters such as Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei and the Pearl and Yangtze Deltas. The plan also addressed ground-level ozone pollution, a highly irritating gas resulting from the reaction of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) with nitrogen oxides from vehicle emissions. The Chinese government set ambitious targets for a 10% reduction in VOC emissions and a 15% decrease in nitrogen oxide emissions by 2020.

In addition to the Action Plan, China has implemented aggressive afforestation and reforestation programs, including the Great Green Wall, planting over 35 billion trees across 12 provinces. The country has also invested heavily in these programs, with forestry expenditures per hectare exceeding those of the US and Europe.

To address industrial emissions, China fitted scrubbers to coal power plants, significantly curbing their dirtiest emissions. As a result, sulphur dioxide emissions have decreased by around 20 million tonnes per year since the mid-2000s, leading to an overall 75% drop in sulphate emissions. However, extreme pollution events still occur regularly during winter, and experts estimate that over a million people die annually in China from particulate air pollution.

China's efforts to tackle air pollution have had unintended consequences for global warming. While the country's actions have led to a significant reduction in sulphate aerosols, these aerosols previously masked the warming effect of greenhouse gases. With the removal of these aerosols, the planet has experienced an accelerated warming trend since 2010, contributing to about 5% of the total global temperature increase since 1850.

China's success in steeply reducing pollution

China's rapid economic growth has caused severe air pollution, which has had serious negative health, environmental, and economic impacts. The country's air pollution was so bad in 2008, in the lead-up to the Beijing Olympics, that it caused a public outcry. This led to the Chinese authorities taking action to curb the worst emissions, which resulted in a 75% drop in sulphate emissions.

In 2013, China launched a five-year national air quality action plan, which helped the nation make significant improvements in its air quality between 2013 and 2017. This plan focused on controlling PM2.5, deemed the most harmful type of air pollution. By 2019, the average PM2.5 concentration had dropped by 50%, from 72 micrograms per cubic meter in 2013 to 36 μg/m³ in 2019. However, this still falls short of the WHO standard of 5 μg/m³.

China's air pollution crackdown has had unintended consequences, however. Researchers have found that it is responsible for the majority of the increase in global warming since 2010, accounting for 80% of the increased rate. This is because sulphate aerosols, released by burning fossil fuels, have a cooling effect on the planet, and removing them from the atmosphere therefore eliminates this cooling effect.

Despite this, China has continued to improve air quality during the Covid era, with a drop in industrial and economic activities resulting in reduced greenhouse gas emissions. The country's air pollution action plans have seen significant reductions in pollution levels and associated health risks, and if these reductions are sustained, the average life expectancy in China could increase by 2.2 years.

However, it is too early to celebrate the end of China's war against pollution. There has been a slowdown in annual PM2.5 level reductions since 2018, and overall PM2.5 levels rebounded for the first time in 2023. China's increasing dependency on fossil fuels is a major concern, and the country is now shifting from SO2-dominated to NOx- and O3-dominated air pollution. Novel technologies will be needed to achieve sufficient reductions in NOx and O3 pollution.

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