Winter smog-control targets across Yangtze Delta less strict than draft

SHANGHAI, Nov 13 (SMM) – Smog-control targets across the Yangtze River Delta region for the 2018/2019 winter turned out smaller than detailed in the previous draft for public comments, according to the document issued by the Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE) on Monday November 12.

The final document set the target of reducing average concentrations of fine particulate matter by around 3% on a yearly basis, compared to the original 5%. The numbers of extremely polluted days are expected to decrease by some 3% year on year, less than the original 5%.

The 3% target stood in line with targets across Beijing-Tianjin-Henan this year.

Production curbs, effective from November 15, 2018 to February 28, 2019, will apply to steel, building material, coke, casting, nonferrous and chemical sectors across the Yangtze River Delta.