Beijing unveils anti-pollution plan for 2019

SHANGHAI, Feb 20 (SMM) – Beijing reaffirmed its commitment to fight pollution this year, as it released targets and measures in the anti-pollution action plan for 2019 on the website of Beijing people’s government on Wednesday February 20. 

The capital will further reduce the average intensity of PM2.5, a major air pollutant, in 2019. It will continue to enforce coal-to-gas conversion, promote new energy vehicles, and eliminate contaminating firms.

Beijing aims to meet the targets set a year earlier than expected, by keeping the proportion of the city’s high-quality surface water above 24%, and ensureing a safety utilisation rate of land higher than 90%.

The plan for 2019 also highlighted tighter crackdown on violators and responsibilities of city departments. 

In January, the concentration of PM2.5 in Beijing averaged 52 μg/m³, the lowest among cities of the smog-heavy Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei and nearby areas, Beijing environmental authorities said on February 19. 

The number of days with good air quality in Beijing accounted for 77.4% in January.