Beijing to ban use of coal in main districts by 2020
Beijing is to ban the sale and use of coal in several regions including its six main districts by 2020 to cut greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and reduce air pollution, according to an announcement by local authorities on Monday
Beijing is to ban the sale and use of coal in several regions including its six main districts by 2020 cut greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and reduce air pollution, according to an announcement by local authorities on Monday.
The Beijing Municipal Environmental Protection Bureau detailed how the districts of Dongcheng, Xicheng, Chaoyang, Haidian, Fengtai and Shijingshan will stop using coal and will close coal power facilities.
The bureau is aiming for clean energy to replace coal to power heating, cooking and a variety of other activities.
The move is a part of the capital’s plan to optimise energy structure and improve air quality.
Vehicles, coal burning, industrial production and dust account for 85.9 per cent of Beijing’s particulate matter (PM) 2.5 respectively and are the primary cause for Beijing’s smog.
Coal accounted for 25.4 per cent of the capital’s energy consumption in 2012, according to official statistics and authorities are aiming to reduce the figure to less than 10 per cent by 2017.
Other selected fuels, such as fuel oil, petroleum, combustible waste and some biomass will be also banned, the bureau said.
The Beijing Economic-Technological Development Area will take the lead in giving up using high-pollution fuels by the end of this year with other areas following the capitals lead.
