PM2.5 targeted in China emissions crackdown

China’s Environment Ministry has announced plans to tackle particulate matter and ozone air pollution in a number of cities across the country.

The announcement comes shortly after it was revealed that Chinese cities had reported fewer days with ‘good air’ in July compared to the same period in 2016 (see airqualitynews.com story).

Beijing is among the cities to be targeted

The Chinese Government’s Ministry of Environmental Protection (MEP) has said that its ‘top priority’ is to reduce PM2.5 pollution, whilst also seeking to contain O3 pollution, through tackling emissions of nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds.

In particular, action will focus on the ‘smog plagued’ Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei area. According to the MEP, Beijing report a PM2.5 density of 64µg/m³in the first seven months of 2017, down 34.7% from the same period in 2013.

In a statement, the MEP said: “In order to contain O3, the country will reduce the emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx) and volatile organic compounds (VOC), which are considered O3 precursors.

“China’s environmental authorities have been undertaking inspections to discover the sources of air pollution, especially in the smog-plagued Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei area.

“The MEP reiterated Tuesday that it will have “zero tolerance” for companies that have violated environmental laws, and encouraged local authorities to protect the legal rights of enterprises that abide by the law.”