China Tightens Air Quality Standards for First Time in 14 Years
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China is tightening its national air quality standards for the first time in 14 years, raising the bar for pollution control after a decade-long campaign significantly reduced the smog that once choked the country’s major cities.
The Ministry of Ecology and Environment released the revised guidelines earlier this week, lowering the annual average concentration limit for fine particulate matter, known as PM2.5, to 25 micrograms per cubic meter from the previous ceiling of 35 micrograms. The new rules officially take effect on March 1, replacing standards largely set in 2012.
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- China lowered the annual PM2.5 standard from 35 to 25 micrograms per cubic meter, with full enforcement by 2031 and an interim limit of 30 micrograms from 2026–2030.
- National PM2.5 levels dropped from 68 micrograms in 2013 to 28 in 2025; Beijing saw a decline from 89.5 to 27 over the same period.
- National parks now have a stricter 10 microgram limit, while most areas remain at the "Class 2" standard.
- 2012：
- China adopted its previous national air quality standards, setting a PM2.5 limit of 35 micrograms per cubic meter.
- 2013：
- China's national average PM2.5 concentration was 68 micrograms per cubic meter; Beijing's was 89.5 micrograms.
- By 2024：
- Nearly three-quarters of China’s 339 major cities had met the old PM2.5 standards.
- January 2024：
- A report by Peking University and other institutions recommended tightening the PM2.5 standard to 25 micrograms by 2025, and to 10 micrograms by 2050.
- February 2025：
- Li Tianwei, director of the atmospheric environment department at the ministry, publicly acknowledged the gap between China’s air standards and international norms.
- 2025：
- China's national average PM2.5 concentration was reduced to 28 micrograms per cubic meter; Beijing's was 27 micrograms.
- Past year (2025–2026)：
- Revision process of China's air quality standards accelerated.
- February 6, 2026：
- Following a State Council executive meeting, authorities were directed to coordinate fiscal, financial, and technological policies to support new air quality roadmap.
- Earlier this week in 2026：
- China's Ministry of Ecology and Environment released the revised air quality guidelines, lowering the annual average PM2.5 concentration limit.
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