Blue sky thinking

Air pollution control measures employed in Hebei province this year

? The concentration of PM 2.5－harmful particulate matter with a diameter of less than 2.5 microns－should fall by 8 percent from last year's level.

? Coal consumption should be reduced by 5 million metric tons from last year's level.

? All generating units in coal-fired power plants should upgrade equipment used in dust removal, desulfurization and denitrification to meet the strictest emissions standards.

? More than 3,740 coal-fired industrial boilers should be upgraded.

? The popularization rate of central heating in cities should be increased to 74 percent, rising to 100 percent in two years.

? To boost the amount of "cleaner" energy sources, the province should consume 7.5 billion cubic meters of natural gas per annum. The installed capacity of wind power should rise to 12 million kilowatts, while that of photovoltaic power facilities should rise to 3 million kW.

? Production of pig iron and steel should be reduced by 5 million tons each, while cement production should fall by 6 million tons.

? Analyses of pollution source in all cities in the province should be completed.

? About 15,140 new energy vehicles should be added to the roads, mainly in the public transport system.

Hebei's achievements in the first six months of this year

? The average concentration of PM 2.5 was 79 micrograms per cubic meter, a reduction of 23.3 percent from the same period last year.

? Eleven generating units at coal-fired power plants met the strictest emissions standards.

? From January to May, the consumption of industrial coal was cut by 3.15 million tons, compared with the same period last year.

? From January to May, 42 boilers were upgraded from coal-fired to natural-gas-fired.

? The capacity of wind power was increased by 300,000 kW, while that of photovoltaic power rose by 100,000 kW.

? More than 110,000 "yell-ow label" vehicles－i.e. heavily polluting－and old cars were removed from the roads, and 3,606 new energy vehicles were put into use.