Better use of air quality reports urged

Despite marked improvement of the transparency of China's air quality data over the past year, academics and NGOs suggest the government can make better use of real-time air pollution reports.

According to a survey on Chinese cities' air quality transparency - which was conducted by the Institute of Public and Environmental Affairs from Jan 1 to Aug 31 across 113 cities - the public is now better informed about the condition of the air.

Most cities followed the recommendations of the Ministry of Environmental Protection, which asked 74 cities to apply more comprehensive air quality monitoring standards, including checking levels of PM2.5, ozone and carbonic oxide in the air.