Battling Pollution

China has unveiled a guideline to comprehensively enhance ecological and environmental protection and win the battle against air, water and soil pollution.

The guideline, published on June 24 by the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the State Council, China’s cabinet, specified pollution prevention and control targets the country expects to achieve by 2020 and beyond.

The country will develop and implement a three-year plan to fight air pollution, with a focus on areas such as the Beijing-TianjinHebei region and its surrondings, and the Yangtze River Delta. Efforts will be made to improve the regions’ industry, energy, transport and land use structures.

By 2020, cities with low air quality standards should see their density of PM2.5, a key indicator of air pollution, fall at least 18 percent from 2015 levels. At the same time, prefecturelevel cities and above should see the number of good-air days reach over 80 percent annually.

Emissions of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides should drop at least 15 percent from 2015 levels, according to the plan, while chemical oxygen demand and emission of ammonia nitrogen should decrease over 10 percent.

The country will continue to implement an action plan on fighting water pollution as well as the system of river and lake chiefs.

China aims to have over 70 percent potable surface water by 2020, while the share of polluted surface water should be controlled within 5 percent. Meanwhile, approximately 70 percent of the country’s offshore area water should be of good quality.

To address soil pollution, the country will comprehensively implement specific measures to restore polluted soil, promote classified disposal of waste and enhance the prevention and control of solid waste pollution.

By 2020, about 90 percent of polluted farmland should be utilized safely, while over 90 percent of other contaminated land should be used safely, according to the guideline.