Anti-Pollution Crusade

　　While some Chinese people hailed the newsthat an informal economic leaders’ meeting at the2014 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forumwould be held near Beijing’s Yanqi Lake,many others worried whether or not thesestate leaders would have the courage tocome to Beijing in autumn, when seriousair pollution might engulf the cityand its surrounding regions.

　　The worsening air pollution in north China hasbeen a long-lasting headache. In Beijing, statisticsshow that there were only six days in Septemberthis year that met the national standard definitionof good air quality.

　　“It is easy to take some temporarymeasures to clean up the air less thanone year before the opening of theAPEC Summit, but people expect thegovernment to take concrete measures to addressthe root problems,” said Bai Yansong, a news commentatorat China Central Television.

　　Bai’s comments recall China’s efforts in 2008when the Olympic Games were held in Beijing. Byimplementing temporary measures such as closingdown heavily polluting factories and restrictingthe number of vehicles allowed on the roads, theair was clearer during most of the days in the yearwhen the games were held. But after the games,the factories reopened and vehicles came back onthe road, pushing the city back to the original state.Action plan

　　An action plan against air pollution released onSeptember 12 by the State Council, China’s cabinet,brings some hopes to people wishing the governmentwould address the root problems.

　　According to the Airborne Pollution Preventionand Control Action Plan (2013-17), “in five years,air quality in China will see a significant improvement,with heavily polluted days to be drasticallyreduced.”

　　The document stipulates that by 2017, thedensity of airborne particles, especially PM2.5 -those less than 2.5 microns in diameter - are tobe reduced by 25 percent compared to the levelsrecorded in Beijing and surrounding areas in 2012.

　　In the action plan, the Chinese Governmentvows to use a multifaceted approach to tackle airpollution through cutting coal use, shutting downheavy polluters and promoting cleaner productionat the forefront.

　　Experts say that this plan is a landmark achievementin the government’s fight to control airpollution.”The plan shows that the government isfocusing on improving air quality and paying moreattention to the need to control the sources ofpollutants,” said Wang Jinnan, Vice President of theChinese Academy for Environmental Planning.

　　Comprehensive approach

　　The action plan details 35 measures across 10areas for addressing pollution, including plans forcutting vehicle emissions and coal consumption,transforming industrial structure and evaluatingemissions reduction.

　　“These 35 measures are directed at sourcesof PM2.5, the main contributor to heavy smogin cities. If they can be implemented, China canrealize goals such as reducing coal consumptionand improving air quality,” said Wang Jian, DeputyDirector of the Department of Pollution Preventionand Control at the Ministry of EnvironmentalProtection (MEP).

　　In December last year, the Chinese Governmentunveiled an air pollution reduction plan aimed atcutting the level of airborne particulate matter byat least 5 percent across 13 key areas covering 117cities by 2015.

　　In the new plan, the Central Governmentpledged to invest 1.7 trillion yuan ($277.32 billion)in the fight against air pollution over the next fiveyears and reduce coal consumption to less than 65percent of the country’s total primary energy useby 2017, it says.

　　Use of clean energy suchas natural gas and coal-bedmethane are to be increasedand construction projectsthat fail to pass environmentalevaluations will not beallowed to continue.

　　To further cut pollution,combined heat and powerplants will gradually replacedecentralized coal-firedboilers in industries such aschemical engineering, papermaking,dyeing and tanning.

　　Heavier penalties will alsobe imposed for violations of environmental, energyconservation and safety requirements.

　　Although eliminating outdated methods ofindustrial production may have negative effects onlocal economies, Wang Jinnan said that the actionplan will boost green industries, which can alsogreatly stimulate GDP growth.

　　Cleaner fuel

　　The new action plan also aims to control vehicleemissions. China has been the world’s top automobileproducer and exporter for four consecutiveyears. According to China’s traffic administrationauthority, the number of motor vehicles in thecountry reached 247 million by July this year.According to the MEP, airborne pollutants emit-ted by automobiles are still increasing, accountingfor more than 20 percent of airborne pollutants.“The main factor affecting vehicle emissions isthe quality of fuel. Improving fuel quality can helpreduce pollution and prevent smog,” said ZhouDadi, an expert with the China Energy ResearchSociety.

　　On September 17, the MEP unveiledphase 5 of its emission standards for lightvehicles, which are expected to help reduceemissions of nitrogen oxide by 90,000 tonsand fine particles by 20,000 tons within fiveyears.

　　Under the country’s fuel quality improvementtimetable, phase 4 standardsfor gasoline and diesel should be metby the start of 2014 and 2015, respectively.Both gasoline and diesel areexpected to meet phase 5 standardsby the start of 2018.

　　Focus on Beijing

　　Under the national action plan, specialattention is being given to Beijing andits neighboring Tianjin Municipalityand Hebei Province.

　　“The region is being targeted becauseair pollution is most serious there,” WangJinnan commented.

　　The average levels of PM2.5 in Beijingand its surrounding areas’ air reached 115mg per cubic meter, more than three times whatthe national standard defines as good air quality.Echoing the national action plan, the BeijingMunicipal Government unveiled its own five-yearplan on September 12 to improve air quality significantlyby 2017, with PM2.5 levels to be reduced toaround 60 mg per cubic meter.

　　The capital currently has 5.35 million vehicles,with annual vehicle emissions of about 900,000tons, according to Li Kunsheng, an official incharge of vehicle emissions management at theBeijing Municipal Environmental Protection Bureau.“Vehicle emissions have been proven to containover 100 carcinogenic substances. Even worse, theemissions are discharged at low altitudes, affectingpeople’s health directly,” Li said.

　　According to the city’s plan, by 2017, thenumber of vehicles in the city is expected to be nomore than 6 million.

　　By promoting clean energy and low-emissionvehicles, reducing the intensity of vehicle use andstrictly enforcing regulations, the governmentexpects to reduce total vehicle fuel consumptionby 5 percent or more compared to 2012.

　　In order to clean up the city’s air, the BeijingMunicipal Government also plans to raise fees forsulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide emissions thisyear and levy a fee for emissions of volatile organiccompounds next year.

　　Under Beijing’s plan, companies that breakenvironmental laws will not qualify for bank loans,fund-raising through public offerings or valueaddedtax breaks starting this year.

　　The Central Government also takesactions. Sources from the Ministry of Financeshow that the Central Governmenthas earmarked 5 billion yuan ($829 million)to improve the air quality in Beijing, Tianjin,Hebei and surrounding areas.

　　Accountability

　　According to Zhai Xiaohui, an officialwith the Publicity Division of the BeijingMunicipal Environmental ProtectionBureau, 84 targets set forth in thecapital’s air-pollution reduction planhave been assigned to specific officialsfrom 42 government departments and23 companies.

　　“This plan is the most workable one in recentyears concerning air pollution, and it makes clearthe responsibilities of each related departmentand person,” Zhai said, adding that implementationof the plan will be linked to the performanceevaluation system for government departmentsand officials.

　　Officials at local levels in China have long beenblamed for ignoring environmental security due totheir GDP-obsessed development strategies.

　　“It’s time to change our development modeland put more focus on environmental protection,”said Ma Jun, Director of the Institute of Public andEnvironmental Affairs, a Beijing-based non-governmentalorganization.

　　Ma advises the government to evaluate localofficials’ performances based on their environmentalrecords rather than on economic growthrates.

　　Zhai, in turn, calls for greater public involvementin fighting air pollution. “Considering the diresituation we face today, the public’s participation issorely needed if we are to be successful,” he said.

　　On September 23, the MEP released targets forthe six most polluted regions. By 2017, the concentrationof PM2.5 is to be reduced by 25 percentfrom 2012 levels in Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei; by20 percent in Shanxi and Shandong; and by 10percent in Inner Mongolia.

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