Phasing out use of coal will lead to clean air

The steel industry, coal burning and growing factories around cities are the main factors causing dense smog in North China, the Ministry of Environmental Protection said on Dec 14. North China, except Beijing and Tianjin, gets 90 percent of its energy by burning coal, which contributes about 60 percent of PM 2.5, airborne inhalable pollutant particles with a diameter less than 2.5 micrometers.

Unlike previous occasions, this time the ministry did not blame automobiles, burning of coal and wood for cooking, smoking of meat, or burning of stalk for causing air pollution. Governments at all levels, therefore, should better target their anti-PM 2.5 measures at reducing the consumption of coal and emissions from polluting industries.

That said, if the interest groups behind the polluting industries cannot feel the pain of the government's anti-air pollution measures, breathing fresh air in the seriously affected areas of North China will remain just wishful thinking.