China will step up efforts to tackle air pollution in key regions still grappling with serious challenges, said a senior official with the Ministry of Ecology and Environment on Monday at a press conference in Beijing.
The national air quality showed a steady improvement last year, with the government successfully meeting its annual air pollution prevention and control targets, said Li Tianwei, director of the Department of Atmospheric Environment at the Ministry of Ecology and Environment.
The Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region in the north, the Yangtze River Delta in the east, and the Fenhe River-Weihe River Plain, and areas that are densely populated, heavily industrialized, or highly dependent on coal, have been identified as key zones for intensified air pollution control.
According to the ministry, in 2024, the average PM2.5 concentration in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, the Yangtze River Delta, and the Fenhe River-Weihe River Plain went down 33.8 percent, 31.4 percent, and 33.9 percent, respectively, compared to the 2017 levels. The number of days with severe pollution also decreased by 4.9 percent, 1.1 percent, and 4.7 percent compared to 2017 in these regions. While emissions have dropped significantly, sustained efforts are still required to consolidate progress and address new challenges.
"The Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region and surrounding areas remain the most polluted in the country, with 13 cities ranking among the bottom 20 for air quality out of 168 major cities surveyed nationwide. The region's emission intensity of air pollutants is more than three times the national average," Li said.
"Given the severity of atmospheric pollution in this region, the government will organize the enforcement of tougher measures this year, focusing on industries and sectors with major structural challenges and high emissions reduction potential. Efforts will be made to promote the green and low-carbon transformation of industries, energy, and transportation while enhancing regional coordination in pollution prevention, control and treatment," he said.
According to the official, the ministry will introduce incentive policies to encourage companies to accelerate their transformation and upgrades, aiming for a win-win situation of pollution reduction and high-quality development.
Local governments will be guided to implement targeted control measures ahead of prolonged weather events that exacerbate air pollution. Regional emergency response coordination will be activated in the aforesaid key regions, and if needed, the scope will expand to include other highly polluted city clusters, including those along the middle reaches of the Yangtze River in central and east China, in the Sichuan-Chongqing region in southwest China, and on the northern slope of the Tianshan Mountains in northwest China.
The ministry will also focus on key industries, industrial clusters, and cities with poor air quality, dispatching enforcement teams to conduct supervision and support through both online and offline channels, according to Li.
China to strengthen air pollution control in key regions: authorities
