Beijing has completed more than 30 emission reduction tasks ahead of schedule, with the average PM 2.5 density in the first three quarters of this year decreased by 3.2 percent year-on-year, according to data released by the Beijing Municipal Environmental Protection Bureau.
The data showed that the average PM 2.5 density was 58 micrograms per cubic meter in September; the average PM 2.5 density was 60 micrograms per cubic meter from January to September, down by 3.2 percent compared to 2016 and down by 34.8 percent compared to 2013.
More than 30 emission tasks, including replacing coal with cleaner natural gas, remediation and clean-up of unqualified enterprises, have been completed in September ahead of schedule.
By the end of September, coal-fired boilers with the heating capacity of 4,000 tons per hour were transformed to use clean energy, gas-fired boilers with heating capacity of 10,000 tons per hour were upgraded to use low nitrogen combustion technology, and emission of 3,000 tons of volatile organic compounds were eliminated. About 374,000 highly polluting vehicles have been banned from roads, while 5,829 unqualified enterprises have suspended production or have been shut down.
From January to September, 3,833 cases involving stationary pollution sources were punished and fined for a combined 145 million yuan (US$22 million). With the assistance of local police force, 411 cases of environmental law violations were investigated. Starting from Sept. 18, Beijing’s traffic administration department began imposing penalties on vehicles with excessive discharges, resulting in a total of 1,730 cases by the end of September, with fines totaling 346,000 yuan.
Thanks to the city’s joint efforts in emission reduction, Beijing’s air quality has seen vast improvements in 2017, however as winter approaches, Beijing still faces grim challenges of fighting against air pollution.