BEIJING (AP) — Fifteen years ago, smog choked the banks of the Liangma River in Beijing. Today, families come to the site for picnics and retirees practice fitness exercises, as a result of the Chinese state’s efforts to revitalize one of the most polluted areas in the world.

Published on: 02/17/2026 - 12:55

Pollution in many Chinese cities still exceeds the thresholds set by the World Health Organization, but its levels have recorded a significant decline thanks to the efforts made by the authorities over several years.

“The situation was terrible before,” said Gao, 83. “When the smog shrouded the area, I wouldn’t go out.” Today, the air quality is “very good.”

Levels of fine particulate matter (PM2.5), which can penetrate the lungs and blood, have fallen by 69.8% since 2013, the Beijing municipality reported in January. Particle pollution declined by 41% nationally between 2014 and late 2023, and life expectancy increased by about 1.8 years, according to the AQLI index prepared by the University of Chicago.

At the turn of the millennium, air quality in China deteriorated due to economic development and the intensive use of coal.

The use of desulfurization technology in stations, plant closures, and traffic control provided temporary improvements, especially during the 2008 Olympic Games.

Highly ambitious goals

The situation deteriorated again in light of increased public awareness of these issues, prompted by published foreign statements.

In the second decade of the millennium, smog shrouded Beijing and other Chinese cities for long periods.

Several international schools have placed large inflatable domes on their sports fields to protect students. In Harbin in southeastern China, fine particulate matter levels exceeded the World Health Organization's recommended level by 40 times for several days in 2013.

An eight-year-old boy was diagnosed with lung cancer, which doctors attributed directly to pollution.

The Chinese Communist Party published a ten-point action plan under which it declared a “war on pollution.”

Supervision was strengthened, while coal stations and mines were closed or relocated, traffic was reduced, and an extensive electricity network was established in large cities.

In key regions, numerical targets have been set to improve air quality, accompanied by timelines.

During that period, “there were many discussions about the feasibility of achieving these goals, which were considered very ambitious,” said Tony Shea, director of the non-governmental organization “Bluetech Clean Air Alliance,” in statements to Agence France-Presse.

Fine particulate matter levels declined rapidly between 2013 and 2017 in targeted areas and the approach was rolled out country-wide.

"miracle"

Tony stated, "Everyone must acknowledge that China has hacked a miracle."

The decline in pollution in the world recorded since 2014 is “entirely” attributable to the results achieved in China, according to the “AQLI” index.

However, major Chinese cities, including Shanghai, are still on the lists of the most polluted cities in the world this winter, according to the “IQAir” website.

Linda Li, who trains to run and lives in Beijing and Shanghai, said that she loses between five and seven training days a year, if not more, due to pollution, despite the decline in levels.

Official data for 2025 indicate a 4.4% decrease in the concentration of fine particulate matter of category 2.5 nationwide compared to the previous year and “good” air quality on 88% of days.

There is hope

However, the “good” quality classification in China is given to PM2.5 levels of 35 micrograms per cubic meter, compared to 5 micrograms recommended by the World Health Organization. China seeks to move from 35 to 25 micrograms by 2035.

In the last five years, the pace of pollution decline has slowed. “Easier-to-apply solutions” have been exhausted, according to Zhengzhou Zhu of the Center for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA).

The center's research indicates that pollution is moving west as heavy industries move to regions such as Xinjiang.

“They cannot simply stop industrial production completely,” said Zhengzhou Zhou. “Cleaner ways of production must be found.”

There is hope that the situation will improve given China's progress in the field of renewable energy. Data seen by Agence France-Presse indicated that power generation from coal plants decreased by about 2% in 2025, despite the rise in global demand.

Ultimately, "the most effective path to cleaner air... is to move away from fossil fuels and let clean energy become the engine of the next stage of development," said Zhengzhou Zhou.

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© 2026 AFP

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