On September 18, 2014, Clean Air Alliance of China, Paulson Institute, China Center for International Economic Exchanges, Energy Innovation, and Energy Foundation China organized a two-day air quality workshop in Beijing. Titled “Restoring Blue Skies: Accelerating Air Pollution Control”, the workshop brought together more than 70 people including top air quality experts from within China and abroad, as well as government officials from Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei Province. Participants discussed such critical topics as air quality progress and challenges in China, amending the air pollution prevention and control law, principles and tools of local implementation, air quality management strategies in Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei (JJJ) region, co-control of air pollutants and GHG emissions, and implementation.
Participating experts and officials focused on six areas:
1.Developing strategies, and policies, laws and regulations to reduce air pollution in China by building consensus on key principles for robust plans;
2.Sharing the progress of actions on air pollution prevention and control in Beijing-Tianjing-Hebei to push forward air quality improvement in this area;
3.Promoting co-control of air pollutants and greenhouse gas emissions;
4.Driving the implementation and enforcement of air quality improvement actions;
5.Developing communication and cooperation mechanisms for all partners;
6.Drawing on international experiences to look for innovative ideas that can help accelerate the development of mechanisms and technological progress.
Chairman of CAAC Steering Committee Prof. Hao Jiming, CAAC steering Committee member Yang Jintian, CAAC Advisory Committee member Ms. Catherine Witherspoon and Mr. Michael P. Walsh attended the meeting and delivered their speeches. Chairman Prof. Hao Jiming gave a detailed introduction on the air pollution control process and the future work to be done in China. Prof. Hao stated that air quality management is a process of continuous development and improvement. There is a shared responsibility for the government, enterprises, and the public. It will require joint regional cooperation as well as our patience and persistence.
Director of Secretariat for CAAC Mr. Xie Hongxing introduced a package of CAAC air quality evaluation tools, including the list of measures, air quality attainment planning manual and its supporting tools. The CAAC will use these tools to support local air quality management in the future.
The conference also discussed the " Ten Principles for Local Air Quality Management: Policy Brief”, which was developed by the Secretariat for CAAC and the Energy Foundation with support from relevant experts. The ten basic principles for air quality management are intended as a reference for local Chinese governments to establish air quality management systems.
The workshop organizers will continue to refine their policy recommendations on air quality improvement in China and circulate them through various channels to further drive forward China's air pollution prevention and control efforts.
