Chinese It is the world’s most polluting power, but it has also become a cornerstone on all fronts in the fight against climate change. It not only reforests large areas of the country, but also excels in the decarbonisation of transportation and energy distribution. renewable energy. It is now also known that Achieved the ‘miracle’ of reducing air pollution by 42% in a short period of 10 years.
Ever since the Chinese government declared the ‘war on pollution’, it can show extraordinary results today showing that change is possible if there is willpower. mega cities Enjoy the sky now, like Beijing, traditionally famous for its gray and dirty skies lower air pollution levels Since the beginning of the 21st century.
This decrease occurs in searches PM 2,5 particles, ie soot microparticles These are substances that are suspended in the air due to traffic and industry and that cause serious diseases by penetrating the human body.
Average 2.2 years more life per person
42% decrease compared to the maximum reached in 2013When air pollution in China is more than 50 particles per cubic centimeter of city air. This recovery The Chinese city increased the life expectancy of its residents by 2.2 years.
These data are included in a report published by the University of Chicago called the Quality of Life Index, which lists some of the actions taken by the Chinese government to reduce air pollution, as defined by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). “War on Pollution”.
This ‘war on pollution’ included: heavy industry downsizingsuch as the production of steel in urban centers, the restriction of the construction of coal-fired power plants in cities and the closure of already existing ones.
Some cities like Beijing We reduced the number of cars allowed to take to the streets during rush hourSimilar to what some European cities do. Finally, large tree planting campaigns in China’s major cities also contributed to this spectacular development.
While life expectancy increased by an average of 2.2 years, some cities experienced much more serious increases. Citizens living under the new ‘Beijing Blue’ are expected to live another 4 years. The 11 million inhabitants of the city of Baoding in the country’s north-central won 6.
The population of 11 million in the city of Baoding in the middle-north of the country regained 6 years of life
“These actions have a common denominator: mutually reinforcing political will and both human and financial resources,” the report said.
In fact, the reduction in pollution levels Chinese it became so severe that it managed to lower the world averageAccording to the report, this amount would have increased had it not been for the Asian giant’s war against pollution.
Although the mood of Chinese cities still several times higher than the minimum recommended by the World Health Organizationit shows what political and civic efforts can achieve, especially for its neighbors in South Asia, where the report warns of deteriorating air quality.
Spain recorded slight improvement outside Almería
Inside EuropeOn the other hand, the situation improved markedly in all countries, including Spain, albeit with less dramatic percentages, over the same period.
In the case of SpainAccording to the same report, pollution decreased slightly across the country, with the exception of the Almería region, as evidenced by the change in recorded life expectancy as a result of PM 2.5 particle emissions. But the decline in life expectancy in Almería is only a few weeks, according to the report.
In the rest of the country, the increase in life expectancy recorded between 1998 and 2021 is also very low, from a few weeks to a few months.
Full report: https://aqli.epic.uchicago.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/AQLI_2023_Report-Global_v03.5_China_view_spreads.pdf
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