London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Wednesday, Jul 30, 2025

China’s Power Plant Emissions See ‘Significant’ Drop, Study Suggests

China’s Power Plant Emissions See ‘Significant’ Drop, Study Suggests

Researchers attribute the reduction to a national policy introduced in 2014 to curb polluting industries.

China saw a significant decline in power plant emissions after the country introduced strict measures to curb its coal-fired power generators, according to a new study published Monday in the scientific journal Nature Energy.

A group of 11 researchers at institutions in China and abroad found that the country’s annual power emissions of sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxide, and particulate matter dropped by 65%, 60%, and 72%, respectively, between 2014 and 2017. China’s National Energy Administration introduced an ultra-low emissions (ULE) standards policy in 2014 for renovating coal-fired power generators in an effort to limit air pollutant emissions.

“This is encouraging news for China, as well as other countries wishing to reduce their power emissions,” said Mi Zhifu, one of the authors of the study and a lecturer at University College London. “Thermal power plants combusting coal, oil, natural gas, and biomass are one of the major contributors to global air pollution.”

Battling air pollution has been a top priority for the Chinese government in recent years as authorities aim to reduce the toxic smog that blankets parts of the country, especially the north. Coal-fired plants powering the country’s heavy industries, as well as coal-powered boilers warming homes during the winter, have been major contributors to the uptick in pollution.

In 2017, China’s environment ministry announced plans for 28 northern cities including Beijing to make the switch from coal to cleaner forms of energy, though the initiative faced challenges due to incomplete groundwork and a lack of proper implementation. In a bid to continue improving air quality, the ministry in September set stricter emission targets for cities that had reported high levels of PM 2.5 -tiny air particles hazardous to human health - last fall and winter.

China’s carbon emissions are expected to peak between 2021 and 2025, much earlier than the country’s self-set target of 2030, according to a separate Nature study published in July. Ahead of this year’s United Nations Climate Action Summit, the ministry said China would adopt “nature-based solutions” to tackle climate change and reduce the greenhouse gases, including carbon dioxide, that contribute to global warming.

The new study collected data from an emissions monitoring network covering 96% to 98% of China’s thermal power capacity. Researchers said the reduction in emissions was achieved by introducing several measures- installing and implementing pollution control equipment; shutting down small, inefficient units; and constructing new units with low emission control technology - and that the country’s power emissions are likely to further decline if all thermal units meet ULE standards in 2020.

“These significant emission reductions demonstrate the technical and economic feasibility of controlling the emissions from power plants at ultra-low levels,” Mi said.

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Former Judge Charged After Drunk Driving Crash Kills Comedian in Brazil
Jeff Bezos hasn’t paid a dollar in taxes for decades. He makes billions and pays $0 in taxes, LEGALLY
China Increases Use of Exit Bans Amid Rising U.S. Tensions
IMF Upgrades Global Growth Forecast as Weaker Dollar Supports Outlook
Procter & Gamble to Raise U.S. Prices to Offset One‑Billion‑Dollar Tariff Cost
House Republicans Move to Defund OECD Over Global Tax Dispute
Botswana Seeks Controlling Stake in De Beers as Anglo American Prepares Exit
Trump Administration Proposes Repeal of Obama‑Era Endangerment Finding, Dismantling Regulatory Basis for CO₂ Emissions Limits
France Opens Criminal Investigation into X Over Algorithm Manipulation Allegations
A family has been arrested in the UK for displaying the British flag
Mel Gibson refuses to work with Robert De Niro, saying, "Keep that woke clown away from me."
Trump Steamrolls EU in Landmark Trade Win: US–EU Trade Deal Imposes 15% Tariff on European Imports
ChatGPT CEO Sam Altman says people share personal info with ChatGPT but don’t know chats can be used as court evidence in legal cases.
The British propaganda channel BBC News lies again.
Deputy attorney general's second day of meeting with Ghislaine Maxwell has concluded
Controversial March in Switzerland Features Men Dressed in Nazi Uniforms
Politics is a good business: Barack Obama’s Reported Net Worth Growth, 1990–2025
Thai Civilian Death Toll Rises to 12 in Cambodian Cross-Border Attacks
TSUNAMI: Trump Just Crossed the Rubicon—And There’s No Turning Back
Over 120 Criminal Cases Dismissed in Boston Amid Public Defender Shortage
UN's Top Court Declares Environmental Protection a Legal Obligation Under International Law
"Crazy Thing": OpenAI's Sam Altman Warns Of AI Voice Fraud Crisis In Banking
The Podcaster Who Accidentally Revealed He Earns Over $10 Million a Year
Trump Announces $550 Billion Japanese Investment and New Trade Agreements with Indonesia and the Philippines
US Treasury Secretary Calls for Institutional Review of Federal Reserve Amid AI‑Driven Growth Expectations
UK Government Considers Dropping Demand for Apple Encryption Backdoor
Severe Flooding in South Korea Claims Lives Amid Ongoing Rescue Operations
Japanese Man Discovers Family Connection Through DNA Testing After Decades of Separation
Russia Signals Openness to Ukraine Peace Talks Amid Escalating Drone Warfare
Switzerland Implements Ban on Mammography Screening
Japanese Prime Minister Vows to Stay After Coalition Loses Upper House Majority
Pogacar Extends Dominance with Stage Fifteen Triumph at Tour de France
CEO Resigns Amid Controversy Over Relationship with HR Executive
Man Dies After Being Pulled Into MRI Machine Due to Metal Chain in New York Clinic
NVIDIA Achieves $4 Trillion Valuation Amid AI Demand
US Revokes Visas of Brazilian Corrupted Judges Amid Fake Bolsonaro Investigation
U.S. Congress Approves Rescissions Act Cutting Federal Funding for NPR and PBS
North Korea Restricts Foreign Tourist Access to New Seaside Resort
Brazil's Supreme Court Imposes Radical Restrictions on Former President Bolsonaro
Centrist Criticism of von der Leyen Resurfaces as she Survives EU Confidence Vote
Judge Criticizes DOJ Over Secrecy in Dropping Charges Against Gang Leader
Apple Closes $16.5 Billion Tax Dispute With Ireland
Von der Leyen Faces Setback Over €2 Trillion EU Budget Proposal
UK and Germany Collaborate on Global Military Equipment Sales
Trump Plans Over 10% Tariffs on African and Caribbean Nations
Flying Taxi CEO Reclaims Billionaire Status After Stock Surge
Epstein Files Deepen Republican Party Divide
Zuckerberg Faces $8 Billion Privacy Lawsuit From Meta Shareholders
FIFA Pressured to Rethink World Cup Calendar Due to Climate Change
SpaceX Nears $400 Billion Valuation With New Share Sale
×