State of air pollution and control in China Tong Zhu College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering Peking University
January, 2013
October, 2013
December, 2013
China introduced PM 2.5 standard on Feb. 29, 2012, after public debate in 2011 about discrepancies between the air quality data published by the U.S. Embassy in Beijing and that of local environmental agencies. Annual mean level WHO interim target-1 (IT-1) WHO interim target-2 (IT-2) WHO interim target-3 (IT-3) WHO Air quality guidelines (AQG) PM 10 (µg/m 3 ) PM 2.5 (µg/m 3 ) China AAQS 70 35 - Basis for the selected level 70 35 Levels associated with about 15% higher long-term mortality than at AQG 50 25 Risk of premature mortality decreased by approximately 6% (2-11%) compared to WHO-IT1 30 15 Mortality risk reduced by approximately 6% [2-11%] compared to WHO-IT2 levels. 20 10 Lowest levels at which total, CP and LCA mortality have been shown to increase (Pope et al., 2002). The use of PM 2.5 guideline is preferred.
The State Council Issued Action Plan on Prevention and Control of Air Pollution Introducing Ten Measures to Improve Air Quality by 2017, the level of inhalable particulate matter in cities above prefecture level will be dropped by at least 10% against 2012 The level of fine particulate matter in Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Province, the Yangtze River Delta and the Pearl River Delta will be cut by 25%, 20% and 15% respectively the annual concentration of fine particulate matter in Beijing will be kept at 60μg /m3.
Ten Measures 1. enhancing overall treatment and reducing discharges of multiple pollutants. small coal-firing boilers desulphurization, denitration and dust removal projects in key sectors Flying dust and cooking fume pollution from the catering services eliminate yellow label vehicles and old vehicles, promote public transport, new energy vehicles and upgrade the quality of fuel oil. 2. adjusting and optimizing industrial structure and promoting upgrade of economic transition keep a firm grip on newly added production capacity in high energy consumption and high emission industries accelerate elimination of backward production capacity resolutely put an end to illegal projects under construction in industries with serious overcapacity.
3. speeding up technological reform of enterprises and improving the capability of scientific innovation. circular economy environmental industry environmental equipment and products. 4. quickening the step to adjust energy structure and increasing the supply of clean energy. By 2017, consumption of coal will fall to below 65% in terms of total energy consumption. Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Province, the Yangtze River Delta and the Pearl River Delta will try to achieve negative growth of total coal consumption. 5. raise the threshold, optimize industrial pattern and set strict limit to high energy consumption and high pollution projects in ecological fragile areas or sensitive areas. 6. market mechanism and improving environmental economic policy. The central government has set up special funds to implement the policy of reward for subsidy. improve policies on pricing and taxation and encourage private funds to participate in air pollution control.
Coal based energy supply Q. Wang, Y. Chen / Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews 14 (2010) 535 539:IEA. World energy statistics 2007 China and India insights. Paris: International Energy Agency; 2007.
7. improving legal system and ensuring strict supervision and management by law. release the ranking of air quality of key cities regularly and establish mandatory environmental information disclosure system on companies causing heavy pollution. improve environmental supervision capability and enhance environmental law enforcement. 8. establishing regional coordination mechanism and making overall arrangement for regional environmental treatment. Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Province and the Yangtze River Delta: establish regional coordination mechanism for air pollution control. The State Council will sign target responsibility letters with all provincial governments, conduct annual examination and strictly enforce accountability system. 9. establishing monitoring, early warning and emergency response system, formulate, improve and invoke emergency response plan timely to properly meet the challenge of heavy air pollution. 10. clarify the responsibilities of all parties and encourage public participation to jointly improve air quality.
MEP Releases Air Quality of Key Regions and 74 Cities in November MEP official recently released air quality of key regions and 74 cities in November of 2013 including Beijing-Tianjin- Hebei Province, the Yangtze River Delta, the Pearl River Delta, municipalities, provincial capitals and cities separately listed on the state plan http://english.mep.gov.cn/news_service/news_release/201401/t20140106_266046.htm
Liability paper signed by the regions and the Ministry of Environmental Protection For PM 2.5 : 25% reduction: Beijing, Tianjin, and Hebei 20% reduction: Shanghai, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Shandong and Shanxi 15% reduction: Guangdong and Chongqing 10% reduction: Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region The other regions were ordered to cut their PM 10 readings by 5 to 15 percent only Hainan and Yunnan provinces and Tibet Autonomous Region has no specific goals but "continuous improvements" must be made.
161 cities release hourly air quality updates in 2014 the authority has promised to release hourly air quality data in 338 cities from 1,436 monitoring stations by the end of 2015 87 cities will begin releasing hourly updates on air quality IN 2014, taking the total number to 161 Data will be collected from 449 monitoring stations across the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei, the Yangtze River Delta and the Pearl River Delta to provide real-time updates on levels of sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide and PM2.5 access the data via the China National Environmental Monitoring Center's website cnemc.cn or on television and radio. China has invested 440 million yuan ($72.6 million) to set up monitoring stations
Summary Government has put tremendous efforts to curb the air pollution in China Actions have been taken in air pollution monitoring, forecasting, emergency response Progress has been made in data release and transparency More need to be done to control the emission Linkage between science and policy needs to be strengthen
Linkage between science and policy Effective reduction in air pollution requires coordinated efforts of governments from local to regional scales, while the solid support from experts in the field of scientific research. Studies on air pollution and control are mainly project based and fragmentized in different organization. There is an urgent need to establish an organization that is committed to continuous and consistent research on air pollution control.
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