July 11, 2026 06:48 am (IST)
Follow us:
Beijing to give up coal usage by 2020 to improve air quality
Beijing, Jan 13 (IBNS) China plans to end coal-usage in Beijing and its neighbouring areas by 2020 to reduce air pollution and improve air quality.
According to Beijing's Environmental Protection Bureau, reducing air pollution in northern China, especially winter smog from the burning of coal, is a mission for 2016.
Beijing will start replacing coal-fired heating stoves with those powered by electricity or gas in 400 villages in 2016. By 2017, the campaign will move to the districts of Chaoyang, Haidian, Fengtai and Shijingshan, said Guo Zihua, a municipal rural development official.
Beijing's down-town districts of Dongcheng and Xicheng eliminated coal burning in 2015, officials said.
Beijing is part of one of China’s most heavily polluted regions. Its main sources of pollution are vehicles, coal-burning, industry and dust from construction sites.
Beijing and other places in northern China had to issue several smog alerts in November and December, when peak readings were abnormally higher than the national safety level.
In December, Beijing had to issue a red alert as the city of over 22 million people was enveloped by heavily polluted smog. Schools had to be closed and traffic restricted with the odd-even number plates system.
Support Our Journalism
We cannot do without you.. your contribution supports unbiased journalism
IBNS is not driven by any ism- not wokeism, not racism, not skewed secularism, not hyper right-wing or left liberal ideals, nor by any hardline religious beliefs or hyper nationalism. We want to serve you good old objective news, as they are. We do not judge or preach. We let people decide for themselves. We only try to present factual and well-sourced news.
Support objective journalism for a small contribution.
Latest Headlines
Centre ramps up preparedness as El Niño threat looms; monsoon deficit narrows, says Shivraj Singh Chouhan
Wed, Jul 08 2026
Europe's silent summer tragedy: Heatwave kills 20,000, reignites fierce air conditioning debate
Sat, Jul 04 2026
From heatwaves to heavy rain: WMO reveals how El Niño could reshape weather worldwide. Will your region be impacted?
Fri, Jul 03 2026
'Don't lecture us': Paris Deputy Mayor slams Americans over AC criticism amid deadly Europe heatwave
Tue, Jun 30 2026
Britain breaks June heat record again as temperatures soar to 37.3°C
Fri, Jun 26 2026
Death toll climbs to over 920 in Venezuela earthquake disaster, rescue efforts intensify
Fri, Jun 26 2026
Kolkata rain batters evening commute, waterlogging chokes key roads
Thu, Jun 25 2026