China issues new action plan to achieve continuous improvement of air quality 
On December 7, 2023, the China’s State Council published the “Action plan for continuous improvement of air quality”. The Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region and neighboring areas, Yangtze River Delta, and Fenwei Plain regions are the key areas of the action plan. The action plan states that by 2025, emissions of nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) should be reduced by 10% from 2020 levels. Moreover, it also clarifies that the Clean Production Promotion Law will be amended to clarify the legal responsibilities of companies using low-VOC raw materials and auxiliary materials.
Target areas (key areas)
The action plan focuses on the following three regions with significant pollution challenges.
- Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region and neighboring areas (Beijing, Tianjin and part of Hebei, Shandong and Henan)
- Yangtze River Delta (Shanghai, Jiangsu, and part of Zhejiang and Anhui)
- Fenwei Plain regions (Part of Shanxi and Shaanxi)
Objectives
The action plan states that by 2025
- Concentrations of PM2.5 in cities at and above the prefectural level should be reduced by 10% from 2020, and the annual ratio of days with heavy pollution and above should be within 1%.
- Emissions of nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) should be reduced by 10% from 2020.
- 5 concentrations in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region and neighboring areas and the Fenwei Plain regions should be reduced by 10% and 5%, respectively, compared to 2020. The overall PM2.5 concentration in the Yangtze River Delta region should reach the standard levels. And the PM2.5 concentration in Beijing should be kept below 32 mg/m3.
Main tasks
The action plan lists nine main tasks to achieve continuous improvement of air quality.
- Optimize the industrial structure and promote green upgrading of industries and products.
- Optimize energy structure and accelerate the development of clean, low-carbon and efficient energy.
- Optimize the transport structure and focus on the development of green transport systems.
- Strengthen non-point source pollution control and improve the level of refined management.
- Strengthen emission reductions of multiple pollutants and reduce emission intensity.
- Strengthen comprehensive measures against VOCs throughout the process and promote advanced treatment for pollution in key industries.
- Strengthen the mechanism development and improve the management system of air environment.
- Strengthen management capacity improvement and tighten management supervision and enforcement.
- Improve the system of laws, regulations and standards, as well as environmental and economic policies.
- Amend the Clean Production Promotion Law to clarify the legal responsibilities of companies using low-VOC raw materials and auxiliary materials.
- Clarify the responsibilities of government and enterprises and encourage citizens to take actions.
For the original text of the above-mentioned action plan, please refer to the following URL (in Simplified Chinese).
https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/content/202312/content_6919000.htm
