Ministry of Ecology and Environment: The average concentration of PM2.5 in key cities nationwide last year decreased by 54% compared with ten years ago, and the number of heavy pollution days decreased by 83%.

The State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television held a press conference on September 25 to promote high-quality development. Huang Runqiu, Minister of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, said at the press conference that the average concentration of PM2.5 in key cities nationwide last year was 30 micrograms per cubic meter, 54 percent lower than a decade ago, and the number of heavy pollution days dropped by 83 percent. The proportion of good air quality days has also reached more than 86 percent for four consecutive years. "Over the past decade, the concentration of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) in China has significantly decreased, making China one of the fastest countries in the world to improve air quality," said Zhao Yingmin, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, at the press conference. The "Opinion on the Full Promotion of the Construction of a Beautiful China" requires that the PM2.5 concentration in the whole country should be reduced to 25 micrograms per cubic meter or below by 2035, achieving air always new and blue skies always present. Zhao Yingmin said that this means that the annual average concentration of PM2.5 in the 339 cities nationwide should reach the current level of Beijing from June to September, which will face great challenges to achieve this goal and the task of continuously improving the quality of the atmospheric environment is arduous. Zhao Yingmin explained that in the past, China has made great efforts to eliminate backward production capacity and promote clean heating in the northern region, and has made positive achievements in cracking down on illegal and irregular pollution. However, the benefits brought by these measures have significantly decreased, and China's air pollution control has entered a deep water zone. In the future, more reliance will be placed on the green and low-carbon transformation of the industrial, energy and transportation structure, and the reduction of carbon emissions, pollution control, green development and economic growth will be coordinated. In addition, the frequent occurrence of adverse meteorological factors such as spring sandstorms, summer abnormal high temperatures and autumn and winter high humidity and stable weather in recent years has also brought a great impact on the quality of the atmospheric environment. Zhao Yingmin said that in the next step, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment will anchor the goal of a beautiful China, and promote the green and low-carbon transformation by continuously fighting the battle against air pollution, and promote the high-quality development of the economy by improving air quality. Specifically, one is to highlight precision pollution control, increase the intensity of structural optimization and adjustment, and promote the high-quality transformation of steel, cement and coking industries to achieve ultra-low emissions, promote the integration and shutdown of coal-fired boilers and the replacement of clean energy in industrial furnaces, accelerate the promotion of new energy vehicles, and promote the coordinated reduction of pollution and carbon emissions. Secondly, it is to highlight scientific pollution control. Taking key regions as the main battlefield, taking the reduction of PM2.5 concentration as the main line, and taking the reduction of heavy pollution weather as the focus, it will vigorously promote the reduction of nitrogen oxide and volatile organic compounds, and coordinate the control of ozone pollution. Thirdly, it is to highlight the rule of law. Further improve the legal system and standard system, deepen the implementation of the permit system, strictly enforce the law and govern according to law, and implement "one enterprise, one policy", and resolutely oppose "one-size-fits-all".