Greenpeace: Air in China 10 percent less polluted last year | Inquirer News

Greenpeace: Air in China 10 percent less polluted last year

/ 04:18 PM January 20, 2016

A policeman talks to the driver of a motor-tricycle on a road amid heavy haze in Handan city in northern China's Hebei province Thursday, Dec. 24, 2015. Meteorological authorities in Hebei, a province which neighbors Beijing and is regarded as China's most polluted, issued its first red alert for smog on Tuesday as more Chinese cities are issuing their first red alerts for pollution in response to forecasts of heavy smog. (Chinatopix via AP) CHINA OUT

A policeman talks to the driver of a motor-tricycle on a road amid heavy haze in Handan city in northern China’s Hebei province Thursday, Dec. 24, 2015. AP

BEIJING — Greenpeace East Asia says average concentrations of air particulates in 189 Chinese cities fell by 10 percent in 2015, a sign of decreasing pollution overall even as catastrophic levels of smog this winter in northern China effectively shut down schools and roads.

Overall pollution levels in Beijing were down for the second consecutive year but skyrocketed in December, when a thick gray soup enveloping the capital prompted the government to issue a first-ever “red alert” warning, limiting automobile use and closing schools.

Article continues after this advertisement

The Greenpeace study released Wednesday found the northern Chinese region surrounding Beijing has seen concentrations of microscopic PM2.5 particles drop by a quarter since 2013.

Still, 80 percent of Chinese cities did not meet national air quality standards, the group found. TVJ

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Your subscription has been successful.

Subscribe to our daily newsletter

By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

TAGS: China

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Your subscription has been successful.

Subscribe to our newsletter!

By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

© Copyright 1997-2024 INQUIRER.net | All Rights Reserved

This is an information message

We use cookies to enhance your experience. By continuing, you agree to our use of cookies. Learn more here.