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Beijing's Smog to Clean Air: Asia's Greenest Capital?
25 Nov
Summary
- Beijing transformed from most polluted to Asia's cleanest capital.
- Electric transport surge: Shenzhen electrified all public buses in 2017.
- Significant investment: Beijing spent over $2.5 billion by 2017.
Beijing has undergone a remarkable transformation, evolving from one of the world's most polluted cities to one of Asia's cleanest capitals within a little over a decade. This significant environmental achievement offers a compelling model for other global cities.
China's success is rooted in a robust policy framework that addressed pollution from multiple sources, including transportation, industry, and energy generation. A key strategy involved aggressively promoting electric vehicles, with cities like Shenzhen electrifying their entire public bus fleets by 2017. Beijing also implemented measures such as lottery systems for internal combustion engine car licenses, incentivizing electric vehicle adoption.
The effort required substantial investment, with Beijing's spending on air pollution control surging significantly. Beyond transport, China focused on reducing coal use, restructuring industry, and increasing green spaces. While the eastern regions have seen improvements, a new challenge emerges as heavy industry shifts to the south and west, posing a new test for Beijing's environmental policies.
