Beijing reaches PM2.5 reduction goal in 2017

Beijing in 2017 reported an annual average PM2.5 concentration of 58 microgram per cubic meter, reaching the reduction goal set by China's State Council, according to the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Environmental Protection. 

Air quality improves in Beijing in 2017. [Photo by Li Jingrong/China.org.cn]

With improved air quality and favorable meteorological conditions, concentrations of all major air pollutants such as PM2.5 in the Chinese capital have gone down in 2017 compared to the previous year. 

Liu Baoxian, deputy director of the Beijing Municipal Environmental Monitoring Center, said the average PM2.5 concentration in Beijing was 58 microgram per cubic meter, a decrease of 20.5 percent from 2016 and 35.6 percent from 2013. The previous target set by the State Council was to cut PM2.5 concentration to around 60 microgram per cubic meter by 2017.

Last year, the annual concentrations of sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, and PM10 stood at 8 microgram per cubic meter, 46 microgram per cubic meter, and 84 microgram per cubic meter respectively, registering decreases of 20 percent, 4.2 percent, and 8.7 percent from 2016. 

Altogether, monitors rated 226 days in 2017 as having good air quality, an increase of 28 days from 2016. A total of 23 days were rated as having severe air pollution, a decrease of 16 days from 2016. 

Despite the single-digit concentration of sulfur dioxide in Beijing, which was remarkably lower than the national standard level of 60 microgram per cubic meter, the other major air pollutants -- nitrogen dioxide, PM 10, and PM2.5 -- still need further reduction to reach the national standard. 

Of the three types of pollutants, the concentration of nitrogen dioxide exceeded the national standard of 40 microgram per cubic meter by 15 percent, the concentration of PM10 exceeded the national standard of 70 microgram per cubic meter by 20 percent, and the concentration of PM2.5 exceeded the national standard of 35 microgram per cubic meter by 66 percent.