Research by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) has revealed that half of the Chinese cities targeted by the government for air quality improvements did not meet their targets as the country prioritized economic growth over reducing pollutants. The State Council’s December 2023 plan aimed to reduce coal consumption in regions like Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei, the Yangtze River Delta, and Shanxi and Shaanxi in northern China. However, despite reductions in cement and coal production, increases in coal-fired power, non-ferrous metals, and petrochemicals offset some of these benefits.
The report also highlights that weather changes played a significant role in pollution improvements. According to CREA, industrial emissions account for about 62% of particulate emissions. In the fourth quarter of 2023, half of the cities targeted by the December air quality action plan failed to reduce concentrations of hazardous particles (PM2.5), while in the first quarter of 2024, 41% of cities surpassed the limits. PM2.5 levels increased by 4.7% year-on-year in the 2022-2023 winter season and only dropped by 1.6% in the 2023-2024 winter season.
Despite these challenges, meeting China’s goals could still prevent up to 180,000 pollution-related deaths by 2025, according to CREA. While progress may be slow at times due to competing priorities between economic growth and environmental protection, ongoing efforts are essential to ensure a cleaner and healthier future for all Chinese citizens.