Due to the massive population in China, the amount of collective pollutants released into the air is very significant. Thus, air pollution is a major problem in China and is the cause of many health and environmental problems.
To identify solutions for the air pollution problem in China, we should first think about the major causes first.
These are some of the leading causes of air pollution in China:
1. Coal plants
2. Car exhumes
China had several strategies to lower air pollution. The Chinese government issued the Action Plan on Prevention and Control of Air Pollution.
The action plan seeks to improve air quality by 2017. To do so, 10 measures were meted out. The first measure is to enhance treatment of pollutants and seek to reduce the amount of pollutants being discharged. The second measure it is to make adjustments to optimise the structure of industries and to promote the upgrade of economic transition. Thirdly, they seek to speed up technological reform to be more environmentally friendly and improve the capability of scientific innovation so as to development and industrialisation of environmental equipments and products. Fourthly, they seek to make adjustments to the energy structure and produce more clean energy. The fifth measure is to set strict environmental access to investment projects, raise the threshold, optimize industrial pattern and set strict limit to high energy consumption and high pollution projects in ecological fragile areas or sensitive areas. The sixth measure is to give some responsibility to market mechanism and improve environmental economic policy.The seventh measure is to improve supervision and make stricter laws to ensure that there will be less pollution. The eighth measure is to establish regional coordination and have the regions works together for air pollution control. The ninth measure is to allocate responsibilities to people who are involved and encourage the public to participate in helping to control air pollution. More information on the plan can be found here.
However, the results are still yet to be seen as China is still shrouded in polluted air. We will have to wait for 2017 to see the results!
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