In recent years, Beijing has actively implemented its green strategy, achieving significant milestones such as a reduction in PM2.5 concentration by over 60% and a 50% decrease in carbon emission intensity over the past decade. This progress serves as a valuable reference for global efforts to combat air pollution and address climate change, often referred to as the "Beijing experience."
In recent years, Beijing has actively implemented its green strategy, achieving significant milestones such as a reduction in PM2.5 concentration by over 60% and a 50% decrease in carbon emission intensity over the past decade. This progress serves as a valuable reference for global efforts to combat air pollution and address climate change, often referred to as the "Beijing experience."
Reports indicate that since 2013, Beijing has prioritized the reduction of PM2.5 levels, undertaking unprecedented measures for air pollution prevention and control. As a result, there has been sustained and rapid improvement in air quality. Specifically, PM2.5 concentrations fell from 89.5 micrograms per cubic meter in 2013 to just 32 micrograms per cubic meter in 2023—a cumulative decline of nearly 60 micrograms per cubic meter or an impressive decrease of 64.2%. The average annual reduction rate stands at approximately 5.8 micrograms per cubic meter, significantly outpacing the improvement rates observed in major developed countries worldwide.
Zou Ji, President of Energy Foundation China, remarked: "Since 1998, while Beijing's GDP, population density, and vehicle ownership have all seen substantial increases, the city has simultaneously achieved continuous improvements in air quality. Through structural optimization driven by initiatives aimed at preventing and controlling air pollution—such as traffic management strategies and production capacity reductions—the city has cumulatively reduced around 870 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions while promoting high-quality economic development."
In terms of optimizing the energy structure, Beijing has successfully reduced its total coal consumption to below 700,000 tons. Through initiatives such as "coal to electricity" and "coal to gas," the city has achieved clean heating for over 1.7 million households. Additionally, it has completed the clean transformation of steam coal-fired boilers totaling 40,000 tons and implemented low-nitrogen transformations on steam gas-fired boilers amounting to 54,000 tons. Notably, Beijing is the first city in China to shut down all coal-fired power plants and transition entirely to clean power generation.
By the end of 2023, there were approximately 1.36 million households utilizing "coal to electricity," resulting in a reduction of about 5.1778 million tons of coal burned each heating season. In 2024, efforts will continue to promote "coal to electricity" initiatives in mountainous areas, with plans to complete projects serving 72 villages and an additional 20,700 households before the onset of winter heating.
As of late 2023, Beijing's installed capacity for renewable energy generation stands at around 2.79 million kilowatts—accounting for approximately 20.3% of the city's total installed power supply capacity—marking an increase of 3.7 percentage points since 2020. The share of local renewable energy generation within the city's green electricity consumption is estimated at about 15%. Concurrently, efforts are being made to expand trans-regional green electricity purchasing agents' scale while actively facilitating market-oriented transactions in green electricity and strengthening strategic cooperation among provinces regarding green energy initiatives.