Clean Air Actions and Air Quality Improvements — Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei and Surrounding Areas, China, 2013−2019

Rapid economic growth based on intensive energy consumption over the past decades has led to serious air pollution across China. At the beginning of 2013, Beijing Municipality, Tianjin Municipality, Hebei Province, and some other regions in China suffered from a persistent haze. Large parts of North and East China were ravaged by haze for more than 20 days, which had a severe effect on human health and economic and social development.

In the same year, the Action Plan for the Prevention and Control of Air Pollution was issued by the State Council, which declared the commencement of intensive air pollution prevention and control. A series of laws, regulations and measures were issued or amended, such as the Environmental Protection Law of the People’s Republic of China, the Law of the People’s Republic of China on the Prevention and Control of Atmospheric Pollution, etc. The National Ambient Air Quality Standard (GB 3095-2012) was also revised identifing the major air pollutants (PM2.5, PM10, SO2, NO2, CO, and O3) (1). Two additional technical regulations and guidance (HJ 633-2012 and HJ 663-2013) were released to standardize the assessment and management of air quality and provide health guidance to the general public (2-3). The so-called “ground-aerial-space” integrated monitoring system was established to comprehensively monitor the atmospheric environment (4), including the satellite remote sensing system, the national air quality, regional particulate, and photochemical composition monitoring networks, etc. A mix of emission mitigation measures had been established and implemented since 2013. A seriers of emission standards for key industries have been released or revised. Upgrading and renovation programs for pollution control facilities in key industries have been pushed forward. An ultra-low emission and energy-saving retrofitting of coal-powered venues and pilot programs for clean household heating in northern China were launched. Small coal-fired boilers (below 10 t/h) in urban areas were eliminated. For mobile sources, the standards for gasoline and diesel fuel quality were strengthened twice in five years, and high-emission vehicles, especially heavy-duty diesel trucks, were under strict supervision.

Due to serious air pollution, BTH and surrounding areas were selected as the key region for air pollution prevention and control. In addition to the policies and measures mentioned above, the National Joint Research Center for Tackling Key Problems in Air Pollution Control was established in 2017. More than 2,000 scientists and researchers were organized to investigate the causes of heavy air pollution and provide solutions for 28 cities in BTH and surrounding area (known as “2+26” cities, including Beijing, Tianjin, Shijiazhuang, Tangshan, Baoding, Langfang, Cangzhou, Hengshui, Handan, Xingtai, Taiyuan, Yangquan, Changzhi, Jincheng, Jinan, Zibo, Liaocheng, Dezhou, Binzhou, Jining, Heze, Zhengzhou, Xinxiang, Hebi, Anyang, Jiaozuo, Puyang, and Kaifeng). A total of 28 expert teams were dispatched to “2+26” cities, and investigation on the “Customized strategy for each city” campaign was conducted. A comprehensive mechanism for responding to heavy pollution was also established for BTH and surrounding areas, including air quality forecast, expert joint-meetings, heavy pollution warnings, instant emission reduction, and supervised enforcement, which significantly improved the capabilities of local governments to tackle the heavy pollution problem.