China to further cut PM2.5 density: minister

By K J M Varma

Beijing, Oct 23 (PTI) China, the world's largest emitter of greenhouse gases, aims to cut the concentration of PM2.5 to 35 micrograms per cubic metre by 2035 from the 47 micrograms per cubic metre in 2016, the environment minister announced today.

PM2.5 is an atmospheric particulate matter of diameter of fewer than 2.5 micrometres, which is around three per cent the diameter of a human hair. It causes respiratory problems and reduces visibility. It is often used as a gauge for smog.

"It will be very difficult to reach the goal and we need to make greater efforts to achieve it," Minister of Environmental Protection Li Ganjie said at a press conference on the sidelines of the 19th National Congress of the ruling Communist Party of China.

China, which along with the US is among the top two emitters of greenhouse gases in the world, had last November issued a five-year plan to reduce greenhouse gas emission.

Li, however, praised the achievements made by the country toward controlling air pollution since 2013 when it rolled out a major policy on air pollution.

From 2013 to 2016, the density of PM10 (particulate matter 10 micrometers or less in diameter) in the 338 cities nationwide monitored by the ministry dropped 15.5 per cent, he was quoted as saying by the state-run Xinhua news agency.

During the same period, the density of PM2.5 fell by 33 per cent, 31.3 per cent and 31.9 per cent in the Beijing- Tianjin-Hebei region, Yangtze River and Pearl River deltas, respectively, he said.

By 2020, the percentage of good air quality days must reach 80 per cent across the 338 cities, the minister said, according to the report. PTI KJV KIS AKJ KIS