28 cities in the north of China met their anti-smog targets at the end of 2017

Almaty. January 11. Silkroadnews - 28 cities in the north of China met their anti-smog targets at the end of 2017, Channel News Asia reported.
“All 28 Chinese cities in a demanding winter anti-smog campaign met their air quality targets from October to December, but weather conditions could pose challenges in early 2018,” the report said.
It is noted that 28 northern cities were instructed to reduce the concentration of harmful particles known as PM2.5 by 10-25% from October 2017 to March 2018. To this end, the volume of industrial output has been reduced along with intensity and use of coal for heating.
The Ministry of Environmental Protection reported that all cities achieved their targets during the last three months of 2017, with average concentration of harmful particles in the region exceeding 71 micrograms per cubic meter, which is 34.3% less than a year ago.
However, the ministry, citing meteorologists, says that unfavorable weather, including relatively warm temperatures, is expected to make it difficult to fight smog at the beginning of the year.
According to the ministry, the greatest improvement in air quality at the end of 2017 was noted in Shijiazhuang, one of the most polluted cities in China and the capital of the industrial province of Hebei, PM2.5 declined by 54.8% year-on-year in the period from October to December there, which is more than twice the goal set at 25% reduction.
The average concentration of PM2.5 in Shijiazhuang remained at the level of 85 micrograms, which is higher than 35 micrograms required by the standard, as well as 10 micrograms recommended by the World Health Organization.
In Beijing PM2.5 fell 53.8% for three months, partly, the city environmental officials said, due to more favorable weather conditions.