By Gao Shiji, Guo Jiaofeng, Hong Tao, Wu Xu, Wang Haiqin, Li Weiming and Qi Aihua

China clean gas energy prospects and policy study research team, the DRC

Research Report No 244, 2013

Abstract

This report investigates the historical process of air pollution reduction and air quality control in the US, Europe, Japan and China from the aspect of contaminant reduction, relationship between emission crest value and GDP, and time series of contaminant reduction. It shows that very obvious crest values appear in major contaminant emissions. Since the 1970s, most developed countries have achieved emissions reduction to a large degree. Their total volume of reduction is no longer connected with economic growth. China’s air pollution control does not lag compared to those of developed countries. The air contaminant emission and air quality is in a critical stage with decreased SO2 emissions and NOX plateau stage. In reference with developed country emission reduction experiences, based on the current development model and emissions reduction pace, air quality improvement is still a long and tough process, which brings up a serious challenge for development model transformation and environment supervision.