Lessons from China on tackling pollution, Pg7

Key Highlights:

• Beijing reduced annual PM2.5 levels by over 50% between 2013-2021, while Delhi remains highly polluted.
• China implemented the Air Pollution Prevention and Control Action Plan and Blue Sky Protection Campaign focusing on energy, transport, and industry.
• Beijing's strategy included coherent policy, strict enforcement, and regional coordination with neighboring provinces.
• India has environmental laws but lacks coherence in implementation due to regulatory fragmentation.
• China's Environmental Vertical Reform created a clear hierarchy for environmental protection responsibilities.
• India needs a long-term, sustained strategy, clean energy transition, transport reforms, and regional coordination to tackle air pollution.

Detailed Insights:

• Beijing's clean air transformation involved expanding electric mobility, shutting down polluting industries, and replacing coal-fired boilers.
• China implemented stringent China VI vehicular emission standards, a dense PM2.5 monitoring system, and penalties for non-compliance.
• India's initiatives like the National Clean Air Programme and Graded Response Action Plan are largely reactive and activated during pollution peaks.
• Delhi's governance system is fragmented, involving multiple bodies, leading to slower decision-making and weaker enforcement.
• China invested heavily in clean energy, electric mobility, and industrial relocation, while Delhi's relocation attempts have faltered.
• Delhi's pollution is intensified by industrial emissions, vehicular emissions, construction dust, open waste burning, and meteorological inversions.
• India can adopt principles from China's approach, including a long-term strategy, clean energy transition, transport reforms, and regional coordination.
• Transport reforms in India require credible Pollution Under Control (PUC) systems, modern testing centers, and a vehicle-scrappage policy.
• Governing air pollution as a regional problem with a Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei style airshed model is crucial for Delhi-NCR.

Key Concepts Involved:

• PM2.5: Fine particulate matter with a diameter of 2.5 micrometers or less, a major air pollutant.
• Air Pollution Prevention and Control Action Plan: China's policy to combat air pollution through various measures.
• China VI Emission Standards: Stricter emission standards for vehicles in China to reduce air pollution.
• Airshed: A geographic area that shares a common air supply, used for regional air quality management.