China’s air quality worsened this year for the first time in a decade

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🗞️ Driving the news: Hazardous air pollution in major Chinese cities has rebounded this year, marking a significant setback after a decade of progress towards cleaner air 
• This increase, measured at 7.7% higher than in 2022, is linked to a surge in coal burning and industrial activities

🔭 The context: China's economic growth has long been fueled by coal-powered energy and heavy industries like steel and cement 
• Despite a successful "war on pollution" launched in 2014, which saw substantial reductions in air pollution, recent years have seen a slowing and now a stall in this progress

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: The rise in air pollution in China has significant health implications, with studies estimating millions of deaths linked to air quality issues 
• Moreover, China's reliance on coal and heavy industries makes it the world's largest emitter of greenhouse gases, impacting global climate change

⏭️ What's next: China announced a new plan to reduce concentrations of fine particulate matter by 10% nationwide and 20% in Beijing and surrounding areas by 2025 
• This plan is part of an effort to regain momentum in combating air pollution, despite ongoing challenges with energy security

📈 One stat: China's air pollution levels remain five times above the World Health Organization guidelines

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