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Thursday, October 12, 2017, 10:43
China's top coal province pledges 40% smog cut over winter
By Reuters
Thursday, October 12, 2017, 10:43 By Reuters

In this photo taken on Nov 19, 2015, smoke belches from a coal-fired power station near Datong, in China's northern Shanxi province. (GREG BAKER / AFP))

SHANGHAI - Northern China's Shanxi province, the country's top coal producing region, will aim to cut concentrations of hazardous airborne particles known as PM2.5 by 40 percent over the winter months, the official Xinhua news agency reported.

The province is one of six northern regions included in an intensive campaign to reduce smog this winter

The province will also aim to cut concentrations of sulphur dioxide - a key component of smog - by 40 percent over the October-March period, Xinhua said, citing the province's environmental protection bureau.

The coming winter season is expected to see smog worsen in the north, especially when residential heating systems are switched on next month.

Shanxi has already promised to put its municipal governments under more pressure to meet pollution targets, saying city mayors and top officials will be held fully accountable if air quality in the province declines this winter.

The province is one of six northern regions included in an intensive campaign to reduce smog this winter.

ALSO READ: Hebei, Tianjin move to curb air pollution

In a groundbreaking policy document published in 2013, China pledged to reduce PM2.5 by more than 25 percent in the heavily polluted region of Beijing-Hebei-Tianjin.

It also vowed to bring PM2.5 concentrations down to 60 micrograms per cubic metre in the Chinese capital.

According to a 143-page document published in August, 28 cities in northern China will aim to cut PM2.5 levels by at least 15 percent this winter, with Beijing aiming to make cuts of more than 25 percent from October to March 2018. 

READ MORE: North China moves to fight winter air pollution


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