China sees post-lockdown rise in polluting of the environment: Study
18 May, 2020
China's degrees of some air pollutants have risen back to above last year's levels after dropping when the government imposed strict lockdown measures to contain the coronavirus pandemic, according to a report published on Monday (May 18).
The rebound was likely because of professional activity, the researchers said, adding there were concerns that after months of unusually low pollution levels, a drive to kickstart economical activity was triggering emissions to spike.
"There are early warning signs that China's recovery from the COVID-19 crisis is reversing quality of air gains," the Helsinki-based Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA), which produced the analysis, said.
Average levels of some air pollutants in China dropped in February to considerably below levels for the same period in 2019, as lockdown measures shuttered factories, curbed electricity demand and slashed transport use as swathes of the populace stayed home.
But average degrees of some pollutants have since rebounded, and were higher in the 30 days ended May 8 weighed against the same period in 2019, CREA said in its analysis of data from 1,500 quality of air monitoring stations in China.
This is true of nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, and fine particulate matter, suggesting a rebound in professional activity drove the trend, CREA said.
Regions with factory clusters reported bigger increases in nitrogen dioxide emissions. Densely populated cities - where emissions of the gas are mostly from vehicles, instead of factories or power plants - showed smaller increases.
After months of lockdowns, China is reopening its economy as the outbreak comes under control, even though some cities - such as Shulan, in the north east - have reimposed lockdown measures after reporting clusters of new coronavirus infections.
Overall passenger transport use in China remains lower year-on-year, but CREA said concerns about catching the coronavirus had led persons to select private cars over public transport as lockdowns eased, contributing to the rise in air pollution.
In Europe, cities including London, Milan and Brussels have expanded cycle lanes to inspire people to choose bikes over cars as containment measures start to lift.
But many emissions-intensive sectors are desperate to come back to work. Public health campaigners said the China study showed governments would have to take tougher measures to completely clean up industries, in order to avoid a sustained surge in health-damaging polluting of the environment.
"There is absolutely no reason to feel that going back on track wouldn't normally have the same consequences - namely, pre-crisis pollution levels," Zoltan Massay-Kosubek, policy manager for climate at the non-profit European Public Health Alliance, said of easing lockdowns in Europe.
"The question is what will be the new normal."
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