China’s notoriously polluted cities could soon be forced to take steps to tackle air pollution, after the government announced plans to spend 350bn yuan ($56bn) on tackling the issue.

According to local media reports, the Ministry of Environmental Protection (MEP) yesterday issued a statement confirming plans to cut levels of harmful PM2.5 particulates in 117 cities by five per cent between 2011 and 2015.

It also committed to cutting levels of PM10 particulates by 10 per cent, sulphur dioxide (SO2) by 10 per cent and nitrogen dioxide (NOX) by seven per cent over the same period.

In addition, there will be more demanding targets for some of the most polluted metropolises, with the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, the Yangtze River Delta region and the Pearl River Delta region committing to reduce PM2.5 particulates by six per cent.

The new targets follow the adoption earlier this year of new air quality standards for ozone and PM2.5, which are due to be met by 2016.

However, according to government officials, currently 70 per cent of cities fail to meet the standards and there is widespread public scepticism about the accuracy of government pollution monitors.

via China pledges $56bn for air pollution crackdown – 06 Dec 2012 – News from BusinessGreen.