At a Beijing event marking the 2026 International Clean Air Blue Sky Day on July
7, Tong Yanchao, second-level inspector in the Ministry of Ecology and
Environment’s Atmospheric Environment Department, said China has achieved
ultra-low emissions at 96% of coal-fired power installed capacity and 90% of
steel capacity, creating the world’s largest clean coal-power and steel
production system. He said pollution control must be deepened during the 15th
Five-Year Plan period; next steps will be guided by revised ambient air quality
standards, prioritize PM2.5 reductions, emphasize precision, scientific and
law-based measures, and industrial acceleration, energy and transport structural
upgrades and deeper pollution abatement to improve overall air quality.
