A little over a decade ago, the air in many Chinese cities was some of the world’s most polluted, with choking smog a daily reality for hundreds of millions. The 2013 “airpocalypse” marked a peak that the country has since worked hard to reverse.

Since 2000, China’s fine particulate matter (PM2.5) has fallen almost 60 per cent, and hospital admissions linked to pollution have dropped 30 per cent. By the end of last year, levels were just under the national target of 30 µg/m³, though still six times higher than WHO guidelines. In 2015, only 87mn people lived in areas meeting the target; by 2024 that number had risen to 664 mn, yet more than half of the population in large cities remains exposed.

Recent data shows a rebound in northern cities. PM2.5 rose an average of 11 per cent in the first five months, with Shijiazhuang up 22 per cent and Jinan up 16 per cent. The uptick is blamed on coal‑powered generation, stagnant weather, and a war‑driven shift to cheaper energy. Southern China, however, has seen clearer skies, keeping national averages in decline.

Renewables have grown sharply—solar now leads, with generation doubling since 2023, while wind and hydro rose 37 per cent overall. Yet coal capacity added 161GW in 2025, with new commissions reaching 78GW, the highest for any country’s net additions. The challenge remains China’s heavy reliance on coal to meet its energy demands.