12/22/2023 5:23 pm (current 12/22/2023 5:30 pm)
Air pollution in China worsened this year for the first time in a decade, according to a new study. “2023 is the first year since China's 'war' on pollution began in 2013 that the average level of PM2.5 (fine particulate matter) in China has increased year on year,” said a study published by Finland on Friday based Center for Research in Energy and Clean Air (CREA).
PM2.5 fine dust particles are considered particularly harmful to health. The increase was due to a “general increase in man-made emissions” along with “unfavorable weather conditions”. 80 percent of provincial capitals, including Beijing, had higher PM2.5 levels in 2023 compared to the previous year. CREA relies on data from the Chinese government, but also on an algorithm that distinguishes between climate impacts and human emissions.
Chinese cities were once famous for thick smog. The Beijing government declared “war” on air pollution in 2015. Dozens of coal-fired power plants were closed and heavy industry was relocated. This led to significant improvements, but air quality often remained below World Health Organization (WHO) standards.
PM2.5 particulate matter poses serious health risks when inhaled. They have been linked to premature deaths from heart or lung disease, as well as a variety of other health problems, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
In October and November, northern China was hit by a wave of severe air pollution. According to IQair, an international air quality monitoring company, the concentration of PM2.5 particles in the Beijing metropolitan area was 20 times the maximum level recommended by the WHO.
China recently approved more coal-fired power plants again. These are also the main causes of climate-damaging CO2. China is the world's largest emitter of greenhouse gases.