Air Pollution

A clean-up at power plants and tighter controls on vehicle emissions were cited as key factors that saw an improvement in air quality in China’s Pearl River Delta last year, according to the latest regional air quality report. But concerns are mounting about the deterioration of roadside air in Hong Kong.

In an effort to bring greater force to Hong Kong’s battle against air pollution representative of the multiple government policy bureaus have convened in public to present a more integrated approach. Although by no means as bad as conditions in cities elsewhere in China, Hong Kong has been struggling longer to bring its well-publicized air quality issues under control in the face of mounting public concern. Efforts by previous HK Government administrations to curb air pollution – which has been on the increase again since 2007 – have been criticized for being half-hearted and too narrow.

In the most optimistic diplomatic announcement for some time, China and Japan have agreed to “promote technical co-operation and explore further measures for dealing with harmful air pollution”.

Oil companies in China must begin delivering cleaner fuel this year according to a report in Xinhua citing a mandate issued by the country’s State Cabinet on Wednesday.

Whilst the Chinese government is finally acknowledging Beijing’s air pollution and acting on it, the Indian government still refuses to take action despite pollution levels in the capital New Delhi far exceeding its northern neighbor.