China's Shanxi plans to curb winter smog as part of 2020 anti-pollution crackdown linked to SDGs 7,11

Each city must set up plans on production restrictions in steel, construction materials, non-ferrous and chemicals by the end of September each year.”

China’s major coal mining hub, Shanxi province to curb industrial manufacturing output voluntarily during the next three years as part of its 2018-2020 anti-pollution crackdown.

The step by local authorities in China to take action for protecting the environment by reducing pollution is a key policy goal mandated by the country.

The provincial government of Shanxi highlighted the fact that each level of officials should make anti-pollution task part of their duty. Defaulters would be punished for taking the task casually.

Each city must set up plans on production restrictions in steel, construction materials, non-ferrous and chemicals by the end of September each year.”

Earlier, China introduced draft guidance on pollution reduction during winter, asking 28 northern Chinese cities including four in Shanxi to propose a series of measures including closing some output capacity in high-emission sectors.

The main aim of Shanxi is to lower sulfur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide emissions by more than 20 percent by 2020 from levels in 2015.  It is also targeting to match national targets on reducing hazardous particles, PM 2.5 in its 11 cities.

The province also plans on banning the addition of new factories in the steel,  coke, metal casting, cement and glass sectors in eight cities which have been identified by Beijing as “key battlefield” of the nationwide war on pollution- Taiyuan, Yangquan, Changzhi, Jicheng , Jizhong, Linfen, Yuncheng and Luliang. Shanxi also plans to as 40 percent of coke plants to complete emission control upgrade by Oct 1, this year. Remaining plants to have a deadline of Oct 1,2019

(With Inputs from Reuters)