Focus on Arts and Ecology

The big environmental stories in the Chinese media this week (16-22 Aug)

The Ministry of Ecology and Environment has warned of ozone pollution in major urban and industrial areas during the second half August.

The ministry said that ozone would be the dominant pollutant in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei area of north China, which has previously been plagued by pollution from fine particles (PM2.5).

While most air pollutants have been declining in recent years, some cities have seen average levels of ozone increase by as much as 40% between 2014 and 2017. Recent data shows a sharp increase in a few areas in northern China since the end of this year’s winter action plan on air pollution.

Ozone pollution forms when sunlight interacts with nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds. It is therefore typically higher in the sunnier summer months. Coal burning in northern China is a major source of nitrogen oxides, and contributes to emissions of volatile organic compounds.

In July this year, Columbia University published a paper claiming that China could save 330,000 lives by 2050 if it acts on ozone pollution.

China’s critical “battle for blue skies” is still underway. Dig a little deeper with chinadialogue’s coverage here.