Lessons for Delhi from Beijing's War on Air Pollution
13-12-2024
08:30 AM
1 min read
What’s in today’s article?
- Why in News?
- Why Beijing holds significance for Delhi in war against air pollution?
- Steps taken by Beijing to control its air pollution
- What can Delhi learn from the Beijing experience?
Why in News?
In 2015, Beijing's yearly average AQI was 144, comparable to Delhi's current average of 155 in 2024. Since then, Beijing has reduced its pollution levels by one-third, with the most significant improvements occurring between 2013 and 2017.
This progress was built on the foundation of a pollution control programme initiated in 1998, culminating in an aggressive phase referred to as a "war against air pollution."
Why Beijing holds significance for Delhi in war against air pollution?
- Beijing's success in tackling air pollution serves as a model for Delhi, which faces similar challenges, particularly during winter.
- Beijing is the capital of an emerging economy, as is Delhi. So, if Beijing could manage what it did at its stage of development, Delhi could and needs to, as well.
- Like Beijing in 2013, Delhi's pollution is significantly influenced by regional contributions from neighboring states.
- While controlling local emissions is essential, a coordinated effort across the entire NCR region is crucial to effectively combat air pollution.
Steps taken by Beijing to control its air pollution
- Beijing's Pollution Challenge: A Gradual Response
- With rapid economic growth and urbanization by the late 1990s, Beijing faced escalating air pollution due to increased energy consumption, heavily coal-dependent heating, and industrial emissions.
- Three-Phase Anti-Pollution Programme (1998-2017)
- Beijing implemented a phased, carefully planned anti-pollution strategy involving public participation and local government autonomy.
- Energy and Coal Combustion Control
- Ultra-low emission renovation in power plants.
- Replacement of coal-fired boilers with cleaner alternatives.
- Elimination of residential coal use for heating.
- Transportation Infrastructure Overhaul
- Retrofit of vehicles with diesel particulate filters (DPF).
- Gradual scrapping of high-polluting vehicles with subsidies.
- Expansion of subway and bus networks and urban layout optimization.
- Industrial and Construction Regulation
- Stricter environmental requirements and end-of-pipe (EOP) treatment.
- Elimination of outdated industrial capacities.
- Green construction management, advanced washing facilities, and video monitoring with penalties for violations.
- Regional Cooperation for Success (2013-2017)
- The final phase emphasized collaboration with five neighboring provinces, leading to a significant reduction in pollution levels through a collective regional effort.
- Achievements - Significant Reduction in Key Pollutants (2013-2017)
- Beijing's targeted anti-pollution strategy led to substantial declines in major pollutants: sulphur dioxide (83%), nitrogen oxide (43%), volatile organic compounds (42%), and PM2.5 (59%).
- Tackling pollution at its sources reduced multiple pollutants simultaneously.
- Critical Role of Financial Investment
- A pivotal factor in Beijing's success was the government's substantial financial commitment.
- Investments in pollution control surged six-fold within four years, funding the detailed and multi-faceted strategies essential for achieving the desired outcomes.
What can Delhi learn from the Beijing experience?
- Ideas related to transportation
- Implementing an efficient bus-metro integrated transport system, upgrading the DTC bus fleet, and improving last-mile connectivity.
- Scrapping old vehicles through a subsidy-for-scrap program and creating exclusive cycling and walking lanes.
- Experimenting with congestion charges, high parking fees, and separate fuel costs to promote public transport and reduce private vehicle use.
- Developing an urban layout that brings workplaces and residences closer to minimize long-distance travel.
- Energy Overhaul for Cleaner Air
- Delhi’s electricity grid, still primarily coal-dependent, needs restructuring.
- Subsidies for solar rooftops and grid integration, along with electricity bill discounts, could promote cleaner energy alternatives.
- Regional Cooperation for Pollution Control
- Coordination with neighboring regions is crucial, as pollution sources often originate beyond Delhi.
- A collective effort to reduce regional pollution could benefit all involved.
- Public Awareness and Accountability
- Delhi’s residents must demand clean air and hold the government accountable, instead of tolerating poor air quality.
- Changing the attitude towards air pollution could pressure authorities to take action.
- Political Will and Government Accountability
- The lack of political will is hindering progress in pollution control. Despite years of worsening air quality, the government continues to blame each other while providing insufficient solutions.
- The public, especially the disadvantaged, is left to cope with the problem.
- Delhi deserves a more serious and effective response from both the Centre and the State.
Q.1. What key lessons can Delhi learn from Beijing’s war on air pollution?
Delhi can adopt Beijing's comprehensive pollution control strategy, including improving public transport, upgrading the DTC bus fleet, increasing regional cooperation, promoting cleaner energy, and holding the government accountable for air quality improvement.
Q.2. What are the main strategies Beijing used to reduce air pollution?
Beijing focused on energy renovation, vehicle retrofitting, coal reduction, industrial regulations, and regional cooperation. Financial investment played a crucial role, with significant reductions in pollutants like PM2.5, nitrogen oxide, and sulfur dioxide through targeted actions from 2013 to 2017.