Going back almost seven years to January 2013, Beijing, the capital of China, found itself choking under a shroud of deleterious smog so detrimental that it changed the way China looked at its future. Beijing – along with other monolithic Chinese cities – was experiencing an air pollution crisis that exceeded maximum measurement levels for human health and wellbeing. With the waves of media attention, public outcry, and international scrutiny, the whole of China turned to the government to take immediate action, which they certainly did.
Fast forward to September 2019, much has changed with significant improvements in air quality. As the past few years have shown, the country may be winning its battles against pollution, but the war on pollution has yet to be won and wages on, as China still faces an uncertain situation in air pollution control because of continued high emissions.
In this blog article by Pacific Prime China, we will explore the actions being taken by the Chinese government to combat the issues of air pollution and the effects of smog on human health.
Improvement to air quality across China
74 major Chinese cities that adopted the new air monitoring standard in 2013 saw their average concentration of PM 2.5 – a tiny particulate matter which is a major hazard to human health – drop by 41.7 percent over the past six years.
According to the Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE), Li Ganjie, the average density of sulfur dioxide in cities above the prefecture-level across the country declined from 35µg/m³ (micrograms per cubic meter) to 14µg/m³ in 2018, down by 60 percent.
When compared to other international cities, the marked improvement comes as no surprise due to the continuous efforts being made by the central government.
What has China’s central government done to reduce air pollution across China?
China has been cracking down on the big industrial polluters that have done immense damage to its skies, rivers, soil, and whole ecosystems over more than three decades of breakneck growth. Several actions have been introduced by the central government, such as following a stringent policy to tackle the smog, enhancing law enforcement, and investing in renewable energy sources.
Air pollution action plan
In September 2013, to combat the effects of smog, the central government released its most comprehensive and influential environmental policy at the time. The policy aimed to help China make significant improvements to the air quality by setting PM 2.5 targets.
As an example, Beijing had to reduce PM 2.5 levels from 89.5µg/m³ (micrograms per cubic meter) down to 60, and it did so by enforcing draconian anti-pollution measures on the industrial activities within and around it. On March 18, 2017, the capital, closed down the last of its four coal-fired power stations that were contributing heavily to the smog levels. Additionally, members of the public living on the outskirts of the capital were banned from burning coal for heat.
Environmental health officials constantly review old power stations still running and probe into those that are inefficient at dealing with the waste products of burning coal. The central government is also looking for companies to install ultra-low emissions technology that can further reduce the emissions released into the environment.
Enhancing law enforcement
The central government of China have instituted many policies and rules governing the number of pollutants a company or manufacturing body can emit. The results have been promising, as pollution levels have diminished. The Ministry of Ecology and Environment is empowered and required by law to implement environmental policies and enforce environmental laws and regulations. The MEE is tasked with protecting China’s air, water, and land from pollution and protection.
Investing in wind, water, and solar power: a greener future
As already mentioned, China generates most of its electricity by burning coal, just as every rising economic power has committed to since the Industrial Revolution. However, China is making headlines by seeking to go green and utilize alternative energy sources. The country has concentrated its efforts on building renewable energy projects domestically to reduce coal’s share of the energy mix.
In China’s Dunhuang City, situated in Gansu province, the first 100MW solar power plant provides its population with an alternative source of clean, green energy. It uses 12,000 movable mirrors covering 7.8 square kilometers. Collectively, the mirrors direct sunlight at a 260-meter tall heat-absorbing tower. The plant alone can generate 390 million kilowatt-hours of electricity per year, and reduce carbon dioxide by an estimated 350,000 tons per year. Overall, China aims for renewable power from sources like wind, water, and solar to make up 35% of energy use by 2030.
Smog is still a problem
Owing to the regions of Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei, and many others, smog is still lingering and causing people to experience continued health problems. It will be at least another 10 to 15 years before signs of smog start to reduce in China and much more needs to be done around the surrounding regions of Beijing, Tianjin, and Hebei.
Current, high humidity and a change in the climate also worsens the effects of smog, however, the winter months may bring additional health burdens to China’s urban population as an increase in energy consumption is required to keep households and infrastructure warm.
What’s happening in our bodies when we breathe in polluted air?
People in China are incredibly concerned with fine particulate matter, PM 2.5, which also makes up the visible smog seen across city skylines and country landscapes. This is because PM 2.5 is so small that it can penetrate into the respiratory and circulatory systems, and flow through the body and into the heart and brain. For example, if an individual has pre-existing respiratory or cardiovascular diseases, PM 2.5 can trigger a heart attack or stroke, among other serious health conditions.
Secure health insurance to cover the cost of treating the effects of air pollution
At Pacific Prime China, the most important recommendation given to individuals at risk of developing a whole host of diseases and ailments is to secure private health insurance. Expats and their loved ones living and working in China will benefit from the added financial protection. Additionally, individuals seeking private health insurance should be aware of any pre-existing conditions that may not be covered in the policy.
With over 19 years of experience and nine offices across the world, our team of experts has solid experience in selecting, implementing, and managing plans for our clients.
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