Half of Chinese Cities Fall Short in Meeting Air Quality Goals, Despite Efforts to Improve Air Quality

According to a report by the non-profit organization Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air, half of the Chinese cities targeted by the government for air quality improvements have failed to meet their targets. This is likely due to China’s prioritization of strengthening the economy over cutting pollutants. Despite this, China has been making efforts to address air pollution through winter air quality plans and decreases in cement and coal production. However, increases in coal-fired power, non-ferrous metals, and petrochemicals have partially offset these benefits. Industrial emissions, which account for around 62% of particulate emissions, remain a significant contributor to air pollution. Weather changes also play a role in pollution improvements through factors like rainfall, air temperature, pressure, and wind. The World Health Organization recommends higher air quality goals than what China has set for itself, but achieving these goals could potentially prevent up to 180,000 pollution-related deaths by 2025.