Beijing taking aim at PM2.5 air pollution

No doubt stung by the recent wave of heavy public criticism about air quality in the city, Beijing authorities say they will roll out multiple measures to lower PM2.5 concentrations nearly 30 percent by 2020.

PM2.5 - which means particulate matter less than 2.5 microns in diameter – has a more serious health impact as it gets lodged deeper in people’s lungs. This poses a particular risk to children and the elderly.

The Beijing Municipal Government is aiming to reduce the city’s annual average PM2.5 readings from the current 70 micrograms per cubic meter of air to 50 micrograms by 2020.

The Chinese capital's ambition is, however, likely to be dwarfed by the upcoming national standard for PM2.5 rating.  Although the national standard has yet to be released, public hearings by the country's environmental ministry last month suggested the future national PM2.5 standard may be set at 35 micrograms per cubic meter of air on average a year.