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Reduce Air Pollution

Air pollution is a severe problem – one that we ignore at the risk of our health and our economy. Smog hangs heavy over Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong, where children grow up with asthma and other respiratory illnesses.

Of particular concern is PM2.5 (particles with an aerodynamic diameter less than 2.5 μm) air pollution. In Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Xi’an, PM2.5 concentration levels in all four cities exceed World Heath Organisation (WHO) air quality guidelines. This means higher health risks to the cardiovascular system, cerebrovascular system and an increase in the probability of cancer and premature death.

And supposing if the four cities effectively controlled PM2.5 levels and had met WHO air quality guidelines in 2012, the number of premature deaths would have decreased by at least 81%, while the economic benefits of reducing these premature deaths in the four cities would amount to 875 million USD.

China's economy has skyrocketed, but at a price. Power plants, factories and heavy industries are all belching out black, dirty air, at the cost of our health and our environment.

Greenpeace is one of the leading NGOs working on campaigns to reduce sources of air pollution in China and Hong Kong.

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The latest updates

 
Exposing the Heavy Metal Concentration of PM2.5 in Beijing

Exposing the Heavy Metal Concentration of PM2.5 in Beijing

Publication | 2013-04-24 at 0:00

From December 3, 2012 to January 18, 2013, Beijing experienced the most severe air pollution levels since PM2.5 monitoring data became first available. In this period, Greenpeace carried out monitoring on individual PM2.5 exposure with nine...

Dangerous Breathing

Dangerous Breathing

Publication | 2012-12-18 at 7:30 1 comment

This is a summary of a report that studies the health risks and economic loss linked to PM2.5 in four major Chinese cities, and assesses the potential public health and economic benefits given effective improvement of PM2.5 pollution control...

Ranking Eastern Chinese cities by their "clean air" actions

Ranking Eastern Chinese cities by their "clean air" actions

Publication | 2012-05-25 at 7:00

Greenpeace selected 28 National Environmental Protection Priority Cities as defined by Ministry of Environmental Protection in three key regions and ranked them based on their current air quality, "clean air" action plans and targets committed to...

China Wind Power Outlook 2011

China Wind Power Outlook 2011

Publication | 2011-06-16 at 0:00

A summary of the China Wind Power Outlook 2011, a report that analyses the prospects and obstacles facing both the wind and solar power sectors.

The True Cost of Coal: Coal Dust Storms: Toxic Wind

The True Cost of Coal: Coal Dust Storms: Toxic Wind

Publication | 2011-04-14 at 10:24

Dust is not the only makeup of China’s infamous sandstorms, which also contain toxic pollutants from coal combustion. Sandstorms can disperse coal ash – containing arsenic, selenium and lead – far from their origin in coal-industry areas to...

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