Context:

Climate change and air pollution come from similar sources and processes. Deep decarbonization is an essential element of China’s environmental campaigns such as building an “ecological civilization” and achieving “high-quality development.” To put in place a people-oriented coordinated management system for world-class air quality, climate neutrality, and sustainable development, China needs to enhance synergy between air and climate responses regarding strategic goals, technologies, investment and financing, institutional mechanisms, and policies. Against this backdrop, Energy Foundation China established the Air Quality Task Force in 2018.Taskforce Strategy Overview

The Overarching Goal:

The Air Quality Task Force pursues world-class air quality for China by implementing health-based ambient air quality standards and a co-control strategy for air and climate pollutants, to support China achieving its triple goals by 2050: annual concentration of atmospheric particulate matter known as “PM2.5” below 10 μg/m³, 8-hour daily maximum concentration of ozone below 100 μg/m³, and sustainable economic development and carbon neutrality.

Initiatives:

1. Reframing a science-based air quality standards system: Support the development of a health-based air quality criteria, standards, and assessments system and support social and economic impacts analysis;
2. National strategy toward air quality and climate change co-control: Develop national and regional air quality and climate change co-control strategies and roadmaps to achieve medium- and long-term goals;
3. Key sectoral emission control: Adjust energy, transport, and industry structures to phase out coal and reduce oil consumption, and optimize land-use through nature-based solutions;
4. Cities and rural areas air quality improvement: Promote integrated air quality attainment planning in all non-attainment cities and improve rural air quality by switching to clean energy;
5. Innovative governance, policy, and technologies: Improve a permit-cored synergetic regulatory system, develop a cost-benefit analysis mechanism, innovate economic instruments, and improve enforcement tools;
6. Communication, outreach, and enabling environment: Enhance communication of multi-stakeholders in the field of environment, climate, and public health, support international cooperation and experience exchanges, so as to build up co-management capacity and willingness.