China Footprint: Changing minds to tackle pollution

World
Europe

Wu Changhua, an expert on air pollution, says that more effort is needed to bridge the gap between policy and reality in terms of cutting China's air pollution.

“On the one side, I think the government definitely makes all its efforts, but somehow on the enforcement part, we need to step it up," she said.

"Not only on the government side, but also on the company and public side, to make sure we really implement and translate the ambition into reality,” she argued, “We cannot just complain about ‘I do not like the air quality in Beijing’. Everyone have to take action and change behavior to contribute positively to the future.”

A woman wearing a scarf around her head drives her electric bike in Beijing on March 20, 2017. /AFP Photo

In recent years, China has become keenly aware of the environmental challenges it faces and air pollution remains one of the most important and urgent issues in the country and particularly in the capital, Beijing.

China, the world’s largest carbon emitter, has called for greater efforts and urgent action to change the situation.

China has committed to peak its CO2 emissions by 2030 and to make efforts to abide by the historic Paris Agreement on Climate Change. Also by 2030, it aims to increase non-fossil energy to account for 20% of its energy consumption.

Air quality has improved in Taiyuan, Shanxi Province, a coal producer in China. / CFP Photo

China is serious about these promises and is edging closer to its goals.

The State Council issued a five-year plan to cut emissions at the start of the year. The goal is to cut energy consumption for every 10,000 yuan of China's GDP by 15 percent in 2020 compared with 2015.

To do that, China will use coal more efficiently and encourage recyclable energy sources. In 2020, the use of coal will account for less than 58 percent of total energy consumption. Supportive policies have been issued with the plan, including monetary and tax incentives and financial support for high-polluting industries.

To tackle air pollution nationwide, emissions in the worst-affected areas will be closely monitored. Coal consumption will be strictly controlled and gas encouraged as an alternative.

More environmental impact assessments should be expected as authorities push industrial polluters to reach emission standards. They will need pollutant emission licenses. By doing all of this, it is hoped that a considerable reduction of major pollutants will be achieved by 2020.