In Depth: Why China’s Air Quality Standards Are Due for an Update

China last revised its national air quality standards in 2012, a major step that set an annual average PM 2.5 limit of 35 micrograms per cubic meter. At that time, government analyses suggested two-thirds of Chinese cities would fail the new standard, and initial monitoring in 2013 found only 3 of 74 major cities compliant. However, the introduction of strict air pollution controls after severe smog events, including the 2013 "airpocalypse" in Beijing, marked a turning point in China’s air quality efforts. Compliance steadily improved: by 2014, 16 cities met the standard; by 2020, 202 cities were compliant, and the national PM 2.5 average fell to 33 micrograms per cubic meter, meeting the standard for the first time. By 2022, it dropped as low as 29 micrograms per cubic meter. [para. 1][para. 2][para. 3][para. 10][para. 11][para. 12]

The 2012 revision, particularly the inclusion of PM 2.5 monitoring and regulations, is widely credited as a milestone. Studies from the World Health Organization emphasize that PM 2.5 poses the greatest health risks due to its ability to penetrate deeply into the lungs and bloodstream. Since then, China has met its PM 2.5 target for five consecutive years without sacrificing significant economic growth. Nevertheless, the pace of improvement has slowed in recent years, and localized setbacks occurred. For example, in 2023, cities like Beijing experienced severe pollution spikes, and regions such as Hubei and Sichuan saw PM 2.5 increases of up to 30.8% between 2020 and 2023. Official inspections confirmed that some cities, like Jingzhou, Huanggang, and Xiaogan in Hubei, reported continuously rising PM 2.5 levels since 2020. [para. 4][para. 5][para. 6][para. 7][para. 9][para. 13][para. 14][para. 15][para. 16]

While "end-of-pipe" controls—such as factory exhaust scrubbers—enabled early rapid improvements, experts say further progress requires deeper reforms, especially changing China’s energy mix and transport systems. These changes are closely linked with China’s broader "dual carbon" goals: peaking carbon emissions by 2030 and achieving carbon neutrality by 2060. A successful low-carbon energy transition could potentially bring PM 2.5 levels down to around 8 micrograms per cubic meter by 2060. [para. 17][para. 18][para. 19]

The current standards are now seen as insufficient both because of their diminished motivational power (with nearly three-quarters of cities compliant) and growing scientific evidence about the health hazards of even low air pollution concentrations. A 2024 Peking University study estimates that tightening China’s PM 2.5 limit to 25 micrograms per cubic meter could prevent 300,000 premature deaths annually. Researchers and advocates argue that standards must be revised to provide new long-term goals. The climate crisis also exacerbates air quality concerns, as extreme weather makes pollution episodes worse and increases health risks for vulnerable populations. [para. 20][para. 21][para. 22][para. 23][para. 24][para. 25][para. 26]

Some fear stricter standards could hurt the economy, but evidence from cities like Tangshan and the province of Hebei indicates economic growth continued alongside air quality improvements. [para. 27][para. 28][para. 29][para. 30]

The key debate now is how ambitious the new standards should be. International benchmarks are moving lower: the WHO now recommends 5 micrograms per cubic meter, the US recently set its standard at 9, and the EU at 10. A Peking University report recommends China target 25 by 2035, 15 by 2050, and 10 eventually. Yet, officials stress gradual, achievable goals to avoid economic or social shocks—standards should set a direction, with realistic timelines for compliance. [para. 31][para. 32][para. 33][para. 34][para. 35][para. 36][para. 37][para. 38]