Challenges and perspectives of air pollution control in China

doi:10.1007/s11783-024-1828-z

Front. Environ. Sci. Eng.

2024, Vol. 18

Issue (6) : 68 https://doi.org/10.1007/s11783-024-1828-z

Challenges and perspectives of air pollution control in China

Bin Zhao^1,², Shuxiao Wang^1,²(

), Jiming Hao^1,²(

)

¹. State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
². State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Sources and Control of Air Pollution Complex, Beijing 100084, China

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Abstract

● Major challenges of air pollution control in China are summarized.

● A“health-oriented” air pollution control strategy is proposed.

● Directions of air quality standard amendments are discussed.

● “One-atmosphere” concept shall be adopted to synergistically address multiple issues.

Air pollution is one of the most challenging environmental issues in the world. China has achieved remarkable success in improving air quality in last decade as a result of aggressive air pollution control policies. However, the average fine particulate matter (PM_2.5) concentration in China is still about six times of the World Health Organization (WHO) Global Air Quality Guidelines (AQG) and causing significant human health risks. Extreme emission reductions of multiple air pollutants are required for China to achieve the AQG. Here we identify the major challenges in future air quality improvement and propose corresponding control strategies. The main challenges include the persistently high health risk attributed to PM_2.5 pollution, the excessively loose air quality standards, and coordinated control of air pollution, greenhouse gases (GHGs) emissions and emerging pollutants. To further improve air quality and protect human health, a health-oriented air pollution control strategy shall be implemented by tightening the air quality standards as well as optimizing emission reduction pathways based on the health risks of various sources. In the meantime, an “one-atmosphere” concept shall be adopted to strengthen the synergistic control of air pollutants and GHGs and the control of non-combustion sources and emerging pollutants shall be enhanced.

Keywords Air pollution China Health impact Air quality standards GHGs Emerging pollutants

Corresponding Author(s): Shuxiao Wang,Jiming Hao

About author:

Li Liu and Yanqing Liu contributed equally to this work.

Issue Date: 18 April 2024

Cite this article:

Bin Zhao,Shuxiao Wang,Jiming Hao. Challenges and perspectives of air pollution control in China[J]. Front. Environ. Sci. Eng., 2024, 18(6): 68.

URL:

https://academic.hep.com.cn/fese/EN/10.1007/s11783-024-1828-z
https://academic.hep.com.cn/fese/EN/Y2024/V18/I6/68

Fig.1 Comparison of current NAAQS in China and the WHO AQG and that of other countries.

Fig.2 Future perspectives of China’s air pollution control strategies.

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