Call to Action

　　China’s State Council released its ActionPlan for Air Pollution Prevention and Control (ActionPlan) on September 12, 2013, eight monthsafter the widely-reported air pollution episode thatoccurred in January, which covered one sixth ofChina’s territory.

　　In June, 10 measures were disclosed in astrongly-worded statement by the State Councilto prevent and control air pollution, called the National10 Measures. The Action Plan is the detailedimplementation plan of the National 10 Measureswith 35 sub-sections grouped under 10 measureareas.

　　Recently, Chai Fahe, Vice President of ChinaResearch Academy of Environmental Sciences explainedand interpreted the measures of the ActionPlan in detail.

　　The Action Plan sets the road map for airpollution and control for the next five yearsin China with a focus on three key regions– Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei area, Yangtze RiverDelta (YRD) and Pearl River Delta (PRD). Forthe three key regions, annual average concentrationof PM2.5 should be reduced by 25percent, 20 percent, and 15 percent respectivelyby 2017, according to the Action Plan.

　　Why are the targets different?

　　According to our research, the lower the concentrationof PM2.5 (fine particulate matter smaller than2.5 microns in diameter), the harder it is to control.

　　Currently, the annual average concentration ofPM2.5 in Beijing is at about 90 ug/m3 level, while it’sat about 50 ug/m3 level in Shanghai, and the figurein cities of the Pearl River Delta region is at about45-50 ug/m3 level. We need to consider two things:

　　First, for cities in north China, PM2.5 mainlycomes from coal consumption of heating in winter.

　　So if we replace coal with natural gas, the concentrationof PM2.5 will be greatly reduced in thenorth. The concentration of PM2.5 in south Chinacould not be reduced this way, as heating is notused there.

　　Second, we set the targets based on the differentconcentration of PM2.5 and pollution levels indifferent regions. But one thing is clear: all regionshave to make great efforts to achieve those targets.For Beijing, it’s required that the annual averageconcentration of PM2.5 should bereduced by 33 percent, from 90ug/m3 level to 60 ug/m3 in 2017.

　　It’s a difficult task, but as long asour measures are in place, thetarget for Beijing-Tianjin-Hebeiarea can be achieved.

　　It seems that air pollutionis getting worse in recentyears. What’s the biggestchallenge in air pollutioncontrol and treatment inChina?

　　Currently, we are facing theparticular air pollution problemrepresented by PM2.5 andozone pollution. On one hand,over the years, the high GDP growth and the extensiveeconomic development mode have led to theincreasing consumption of resources and energy.If we don’t change the current development mode,upgrade and optimize the industrial structure, airpollution will continue.

　　On the other hand, we have made big progressin reducing emissions. For instance, we havereduced sulfur dioxide emissions by 14.3 percentduring the 11th Five-Year Plan (2006-11) period. Butthe sources of PM2.5 are complicated, and manyfactors contribute to PM2.5 pollution. Pollution suchas dust, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides and volatileorganic compounds are a byproduct of industrialproduction and lead to more pollutants throughchemical reactions, such as PM2.5. Although wehave made efforts to reduce the emissions of sulfurdioxide and nitrogen oxides, we didn’t control andtreat the volatile organic compounds, as well asthe increasing construction site dust. Thus, thosepollutants keep growing fast, and lead to PM2.5pollution.

　　In your opinion, what are the highlights ofthe Action Plan?

　　The first highlight is that we put our focus on theimprovement of environmental quality instead offocusing on reducing the emissions of sulfur dioxideand nitrogen oxides. I think this is a strategicchange of our efforts in air pollution control andtreatment.

　　Second, the National 10 Measures are notlimited in the area of environmental protection,but are closely related with the economic andsocial development of the country. The Action Planpushes us to change our economic developmentmode, and to make our industrial structure moreenergy-efficient. Those measures are not specializedproposals, but national comprehensive airpollution control and treatment programs.

　　Third, the Action Plan emphasizes solving airpollution problems using market mechanisms andinvolves nearly 20 relevant environmental policiesand regulations. For instance, those who pollutewill be responsible for the control and treatment ofpollution; those who reduce the emissions will berewarded, while those who don’t reduce emissionswill be punished. This time we use a comprehensiveapproach including the legal, market mechanismand administrative means to control and treat airpollution.

　　Fourth, this time we especially highlight thecoordinated control of multiple pollutants, ratherthan reducing the emission of one or two kinds ofpollutants.

　　Fifth, the plan stresses conducting both longtermenvironmental protection and the control andtreatment of short-circle heavy pollution, includingreducing the occurrence frequency, the degree ofcontamination and the pollution duration.

　　Sixth, this Action Plan emphasizes the implementationof the measures. For example, detailedtargets for Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei area including thetons of coal to be reduced are set. All the figuresare specific and measures are quantitative. Someregions have established effective and strict assessmentmechanisms to ensure the implementation ofthe Action Plan. The government agencies, supervisiondepartments and environmental protectionorganizations are encouraged to work together tocarry out those measures.

关注读览天下微信， 100万篇深度好文， 等你来看……