In recent years, air quality in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region has significantly improved, with a substantial reduction in the concentration of major air pollutants and a noticeable decrease in the days of heavy pollution. In 2024, the PM2.5 concentration in the region decreased by 3.4 percent year-on-year, outperforming the national average. Compared with 2013, the annual average concentration of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) in Beijing, Tianjin, and Hebei decreased by more than 60 percent, reaching 30.5, 38.1, and 37.7 micrograms per cubic meter, respectively.

In 2024, the annual average concentration of fine particles (PM2.5) in Beijing was 30.5 micrograms per cubic meter, a 6.2-percent decrease compared with the previous year. This indicates that Beijing has met the fourth consecutive year of meeting China's ambient air quality standard (Grade II). In 2024, Beijing recorded 290 days of good/moderate air quality, the highest number of such days since the monitoring began. Compared with 2013, the number of the days with good/moderate air quality in 2024 increased by 114 days, the highest ever. The number of heavily polluted days decreased from 58 to 2, indicating a reduction of 96.6 percent, the lowest on record.

In accordance with the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei coordinated development strategy, the ecological and environmental enforcement authorities of the three regions have established a joint enforcement mechanism. Since its establishment, the enforcement authorities have been becoming increasingly important in tackling pollution during the autumn and winter, responding to heavy pollution emergencies, and quickly addressing environmental violations at border areas.

This year, the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region will further strengthen joint prevention and control of air pollution. Measures include exploring the potential of emission reduction, enhancing in-depth treatment of industrial pollution, deepening prevention of mobile source pollution, improving joint emergency response to air pollution, strengthening air quality forecasting, analysis and judgment, and collaborating to respond to pollution events. All the efforts are aimed at safeguarding air quality during critical periods.

(Source: The Beijing News)