Lessons from China on Tackling Pollution

UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper 3 –Environment (pollution)

Introduction

Air pollution has remained a severe challenge for both China and India for decades. Yet, their outcomes over the last decade have sharply diverged. Beijing reduced its annual PM2.5 concentration by more than 50% between 2013 and 2021, while Delhi continues to rank among the world’s most polluted cities. This contrast highlights how governance structure, enforcement capacity, and regional coordination determine the success of clean-air efforts. Lessons from China on Tackling Pollution.

China’s Clean-Air Transformation

1. Mission-driven policy push: China adopted a long-term, mission-oriented approach through the Air Pollution Prevention and Control Action Plan and the Blue Sky Protection Campaign. These campaigns treated pollution control as a continuous national priority rather than an emergency response.
2. Coherent policy with strict enforcement: Hundreds of polluting industries were shut down or relocated, and thousands of coal-fired boilers were replaced with natural gas. Heavy penalties for non-compliance ensured that rules were followed.
3. Energy shift away from coal: China expanded electric mobility and moved away from coal in urban areas. China VI vehicle emission standards were imposed nationwide, reducing pollution from transport and industry.
4. Monitoring reforms: Beijing built one of the world’s densest PM2.5 real-time monitoring networks. This allowed constant tracking of pollution levels and faster enforcement action.
5. Regional airshed coordination: Beijing worked with Tianjin and Hebei provinces under a unified airshed strategy. This ensured control of pollution moving across administrative boundaries.
6. Measurable outcome: Average PM2.5 levels fell from about 102 μg/m³ in 2013 to nearly 31 μg/m³ by 2024. This showed that sustained action delivers long-term results.

India’s Clean-Air Framework: Concerns and Challenges

1. Strong laws but weak coordination: India has the Air Act, Environment Protection Act, pollution control boards, and tribunals. However, regulatory fragmentation weakens their combined impact.
2. Fragmented governance structure: Air quality management is shared by the Union government, States, pollution boards, and municipal bodies. This diffusion of authority slows decisions and weakens accountability.
3. Reactive and short-term measures: Policies such as construction bans, odd-even rationing, and work-from-home advisories are mostly triggered during pollution peaks. They are not embedded in long-term planning.
4. Limited authority of coordinating institutions:The Commission for Air Quality Management exists, but its directions lack strong enforcement power over neighbouring States, especially on stubble burning.
5. Institutional capacity constraints: Pollution control boards remain chronically understaffed and underfunded, reducing inspection, monitoring, and enforcement capacity.

Government Initiatives in India

1. National and regional programmes: India launched the National Clean Air Programme, the Graded Response Action Plan, and Delhi’s Air Pollution Mitigation Plan 2025 to guide air-quality action.
2. Sector-specific regulatory controls: Rules targeting construction dust, waste management, crop-residue burning, and industrial emissions aim to address key pollution sources.
3. Transport-related interventions: India adopted BS-VI emission norms and introduced odd-even rationing. However, corrupted PUC checks reduce their effectiveness.
4. Industrial relocation efforts: Projects such as Bawana industrial relocation sought to move polluting units out of Delhi. Poor infrastructure and service delivery limited their success.
5. Clean alternatives with weak outcomes: Waste-to-energy plants were promoted as sustainable solutions. Many failed to meet air-quality standards, adding to pollution loads.

What India Can Borrow from China

1. Shift to mission-mode governance: Air pollution should be treated as a national public health emergency. Policy must move from episodic responses to sustained long-term action.
2. Accelerate clean energy transition: China’s shift away from coal drove major PM2.5 reductions. India must expand clean energy adoption and energy-efficient standards across sectors.
3. Ensure real enforcement in transport reforms: BS-VI norms require credible PUC systems, modern testing centres, and a strong vehicle-scrappage policy. Enforcement matters more than announcements.
4. Strengthen public transport and electric mobility: Public transport expansion has not kept pace with city growth. EV charging infrastructure and incentives must support large-scale electric mobility adoption.
5. Make industrial relocation functional: Relocation must provide full utilities, transport access, and real-time emissions monitoring. Paper relocation without support shifts pollution, not solutions.
6. Adopt a regional airshed approach: Delhi-NCR needs a Beijing-style airshed model, because pollution flows across borders. Regional alignment must be strong enough to act on shared sources like stubble burning and cross-border emissions.

Conclusion

China’s success shows that clean air depends on governance strength, enforcement capacity, and regional coordination. India has laws and programmes but lacks sustained execution. Mission-mode planning, clean energy transition, strict transport enforcement, empowered regulators, and a regional airshed strategy are essential to achieve lasting air-quality improvement.

Question for practice:

Examine how differences in governance structure and regulatory enforcement between China and India have influenced their respective air pollution outcomes.

Source: The Hindu