Air pollution control plan issued for Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei in fall, winter
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E-mail China.org.cn, September 28, 2018
The Ministry of Ecology and Environment issued an action plan on Sept. 27 to control air pollution in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region and surrounding areas for this fall and winter.
The plan calls for the reduction for both the average intensity of PM2.5—a major air pollutant—and the number of days of heavy pollution by around 3 percent year-on-year in 28 cities and municipalities in northern China from Oct. 1 to March 31.
This is the second time China issued a plan specifically reducing air pollution for the fall and winter seasons. Officials from the Ministry of Ecology and Environment said the plan is in response to the smog problem frequently seen in northern China around this time.
Cities have been tasked with different goals. Beijing, Tianjin, and Langfang in Hebei province are required to "continue to improve" in terms of the PM2.5 intensity and heavy pollution days, while some other cities need to fulfill their specific reduction goals.
Provincial forecasting centers need to be equipped with seven-day air quality forecasting capabilities across the cities, and the cities need to update on their analysis of the pollution sources by the end of this month, according to the plan.
Unlike last year, this year's plan does not set a unified production restriction on high-pollution industries such as steel and building material production. It instead requires these industries to adjust production schedules according to monthly air quality and weather forecasts, reducing work during cold periods when homes may require increased heating.
Regarding the conversion of residential winter heating sources from coal to natural gas or electricity, the plan requires the cities to set their own targets in accordance with local conditions in order to ensure environment-friendly heating supply.
The plan also requires local governments to formulate three-year action plans to adjust transportation structure, encouraging more use of railways, river-sea shipping, and pipelines for bulk goods, as well as new energy vehicles in public transportation.
Cities are also required to standardize their emergency and early warning systems regarding heavy pollution days. Central authorities will strengthen inspection on air pollution in this fall and winter, the plan says.
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