The new Action Plan

 

 

 

China's State Council released its new Action Plan for Air Pollution Prevention and Control (2013-17) (Action Plan) in September, claiming that China will improve its air quality over the next five years. The policy is the toughest ever, and has set out a road map for air pollution and control with a focus on three key regions: the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei regional cluster (Jing-Jin-Ji), the Yangtze River Delta (YRD) and the Pearl River Delta (PRD). It is composed of ten measures and 35 sub-sections.

According to the plan, by 2017, the concentration of PM10 must fall by at least 10 percent compared to 2012 level. Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei province must reduce the concentration of PM2.5 by about 25 percent by 2017, based on the 2012 level. The target for the Yangtze River Delta region is around 20 percent, and the target for the Pearl River Delta region is approximately 15 percent.

Moreover, provinces and municipalities like Beijing, Shanghai, Tianjin and Hebei have also released action plans in a bid to fight against severe air pollution.