Figures in the research report by Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago (EPIC)

China’s “National Action Plan of 2013 and subsequent aggressive measures to reduce pollution were strikingly successful”, according to a research report done by the Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago (EPIC) which is released on Mar.13, 2018.

After analyzing daily PM2.5 data from more than 200 monitors across China from 2013 to 2017, the research team found that China’s most populated areas have experienced remarkable improvement in air quality, ranging from 21 to 42 percent. “These results suggest the country is winning its war on pollution.”

The report says that since 2013, air quality has improved dramatically across the county. “For the 70 percent of the population with data available in 2013 and 2017, concentrations of PM2.5 fell by an average of 32 percent, particularly in China’s most populated cities.”

“The data is in-China is winning its war against pollution and is due to see dramatic improvement in the overall health of its people.” says Michael Greenstone, the Milton Friedman Professor in Economics Director, EPIC.

And China’s own standard and well above WHO guidelines, these data indicate that the country has achieved remarkably cleaner air in the very short period of four years.

The report also says that in the 204 prefectures for which we have data, which cover nearly 70 percent of the total population, residents can expect to live on average 2.4 year longer relative to 2013 if the recent reductions in pollution are sustained.

The data from China’s national monitoring network indicate that the country has made significant gains in achieving its air quality goals.

“These improvements in air quality in just four years are truly remarkable by any measure. By comparison, it took the United States a dozen years and the vicious 1981-82 recession to achieve similar reductions in air pollution.” says the report.

[ Editor: Zhang Zhou ]