China's Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE) said on Thursday that the country overachieved its sustainability targets during the 13th Five-Year Plan period (2016-2020). Despite the pressure from the COVID-19, the average ozone pollution has declined for the first time since 2015, pointing the way towards a green recovery.

"The concentration of major air pollutants has been declining, including PM2.5, PM10, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide and ozone concentrations, which witnessed its first decline since 2015," Liu Bingjiang, head of the Air Quality Management of the MEE, told reporters at a press conference in Beijing.

Beyond the decline, ozone pollution still increased in some key regions. But that doesn't mean there's a correlation between this increase and the reduction in PM2.5 levels.

"It is centralized industries causing an increase in ozone concentrations in certain regions, as well as rising temperatures, and increased ozone concentrations in other countries around the world," Liu continued, adding that it's not because of the fluctuation of PM2.5.

How can China win the battle against heavy pollution?

Air quality has improved, with average concentrations of PM2.5 decreasing year on year from 2015. The percentage of days with good air quality in prefecture-level cities was about 80 percent in 2019, rising to over 85 percent in 2020.

But heavy pollution is still a big concern for many Chinese people. So how will the country win the battle against it over the next five years?  

Liu pointed out that the nation will strengthen technological skills to enhance the forecast for air pollution, based on the fruits achieved by the energy-saving and industrial structure.

"We call on local companies to follow the guidelines during the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025)," added Liu.

Experts also believe that efforts should be made in stages, across different regions, to continually improve air quality over the next five years.