China vows £35bn to combat air pollution

China's Ministry of Environmental Protection has vowed to invest $56 billion (£35bn) into tackling the country's notorious air pollution.

The government has set a goal of slashing levels of harmful PM2.5 particulates in 117 cities by five per cent between 2011 and 2015.

Furthermore, it pledged to cut levels of PM10 particulates by ten per cent, sulphur dioxide (SO2) by ten per cent, and nitrogen dioxide (NOX) by seven per cent during the same time.

Some of the most polluted cities in China will face tougher targets. The Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, the Yangtze River Delta region and the Pearl River Delta region are all aiming to cut their PM2.5 particulate levels by six per cent.

In response to reports of alarmingly high pollution levels earlier this year, the government set new air quality standards for ozone and PM2.5 levels. These targets are hoped to be completed by 2016.

However, many members of public are sceptical that the government will be able to hit the targets, according to reports. 

The government admitted that approximately 70 per cent of cities do not meet minimum standards of air pollution levels, and further measures are to be put into place to bring this figure down.

In a bid to bring these down, tighter emissions standards are going to be placed on industrial facilities and transport. Investment in public transport will also be boosted.

Additionally, 'offset measures' which will require the development of new emissions producing facilities to be counteracted by the closure of more emissions-intensive facilities in the region, will also be implemented.

Zhao Hualin, head of the MEP Department of Pollution Prevention and Control, told state news agency Xinhua: "The starting point of the plan is to improve air quality and resolve the PM2.5 problem, an issue directly related to and most concerned by people."