Over the last decade, China has been trying to tackle worsening air quality from urbanization and industrialization. In 2023, the average concentration of ozone was around 144 micrograms per cubic meter in 339 cities in China.
Environmental degradation
Becoming the global manufacturing hub of goods brought not only rapid economic development to China, but also deteriorating air quality in cities across the country. Among other types of environmental issues, air pollution was the most concerning issue for almost half of Chinese survey respondents. Since 2001, carbon dioxide emissions in China have tripled to over 11 gigatons in 2022, with emissions increasing quickly again after dipping in 2016.
Environmental protection
The Chinese government saw environmental degradation primarily as a public health issue to Chinese citizens and therefore started contributing more and more resources into protecting the environment. In 2023, public expenditure on energy conservation and environmental protection in China had amounted to nearly 564 billion yuan, almoust double the amount of ten years ago. Citizens have also begun to change their habits due to climate change. For example, around half of Chinese have made changes to their commuting and water use habits in order to help fight climate change.
Annual average of concentration of air pollutants of 339 cities* in China in 2023
(in micrograms** per cubic meter)
Characteristic
PM2.5
PM10
Ozone
Sulfur dioxide
Nitrogen dioxide
Carbon monoxide**
2023
30
53
144
9
22
1
Created with Highcharts 7.2.2Concentration in microgram per cubic meter3030535314414499222211PM2.5PM10OzoneSulfur dioxideNitrogen dioxideCarbon monoxide**2023
0255075100125150175
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Annual average of concentration of air pollutants of 339 cities* in China in 2023
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* According to source, these are cities at or above prefecture level (APL cities) including municipality, cities or regions at prefecture level, autonomous prefectures and league.
** Concentration of Carbon monoxide was expressed in milligram per cubic meter.
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Ministry of Ecology and Environment (China). (June 5, 2024). Annual average of concentration of air pollutants of 339 cities* in China in 2023 (in micrograms** per cubic meter) [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved February 25, 2025, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/1042131/china-average-concentration-of-air-pollutants/
Ministry of Ecology and Environment (China). "Annual average of concentration of air pollutants of 339 cities* in China in 2023 (in micrograms** per cubic meter)." Chart. June 5, 2024. Statista. Accessed February 25, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1042131/china-average-concentration-of-air-pollutants/
Ministry of Ecology and Environment (China). (2024). Annual average of concentration of air pollutants of 339 cities* in China in 2023 (in micrograms** per cubic meter). Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: February 25, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1042131/china-average-concentration-of-air-pollutants/
Ministry of Ecology and Environment (China). "Annual Average of Concentration of Air Pollutants of 339 Cities* in China in 2023 (in Micrograms** per Cubic Meter)." Statista, Statista Inc., 5 Jun 2024, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1042131/china-average-concentration-of-air-pollutants/
Ministry of Ecology and Environment (China), Annual average of concentration of air pollutants of 339 cities* in China in 2023 (in micrograms** per cubic meter) Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1042131/china-average-concentration-of-air-pollutants/ (last visited February 25, 2025)
Annual average of concentration of air pollutants of 339 cities* in China in 2023 (in micrograms** per cubic meter) [Graph], Ministry of Ecology and Environment (China), June 5, 2024. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/1042131/china-average-concentration-of-air-pollutants/
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