13th Five-Year Plan is the first to include PM2.5 targets | Liu Qin - China Dialogue

Having been in Beijing for last December's "airpocalypse" when schools were shut and odd-even driving days imposed, I am glad to see the government there committing to reduced emissions targets. - gwc

13th Five-Year Plan is the first to include PM2.5 targets | Liu Qin - China Dialogue

In his address to China’s National People’s Congress on March 5, Premier Li Keqiang called for “heavy blows” to be struck against air and water pollution that have exacted a heavy toll on large swaths of the world's most populous country.

Li cited targets to improve environmental standards across the board, but focused in particular on measures to tackle urban smog that would deliver “good air quality” day readings for 80% of the year.

The targets are part of the forthcoming 13th Five-Year Plan (FYP), a policy blueprint that will shape China’s economic development over the next five years up to 2021.

The premier’s speech was delivered on the opening day of the session and set the tone for discussions that will continue until March 16.

The full list of proposals will not be published until the close of the twin legislative sessions. However, Li’s speech has already indicated that the government will limit factory emissions of tiny harmful particulate matter (PM2.5) - a major cause of air pollution - down by 25%.

This is the first time in the China’s history that a specific PM2.5 target has been included in a FYP.