CLEAN AIR AND SUSTAINABLE CITIES IN CHINA

This briefing by Energy Innovation argues that while fuel quality standards are a critical first step in reducing air pollution in China, long-term success depends on developing sustainable, dense, and walkable cities to avoid the car-reliant model of the 20th-century United States.

• China has recently adopted world-class fuel quality standards to reduce emissions from factories and vehicles, aligning its requirements with those of the United States and the European Union.
• Transportation-related emissions are the fastest growing source of air pollution in China, and traffic congestion is already causing paralysis in many cities despite less than five percent of the population owning a car.
• Sustainable urban development in China should prioritize walkable, mixed-use neighborhoods and high-quality public transit, specifically Bus Rapid Transit (BRT). China's 12th Five Year Plan targets the construction of 3,000 kilometers of BRT by 2015.
• Energy efficiency standards for buildings in compact cities contribute to cleaner air by reducing the amount of electricity and energy consumed, which in turn lowers pollution from power plants.

APA

Energy Innovation (2012). CLEAN AIR AND SUSTAINABLE CITIES IN CHINA. https://energyinnovation.org/wp-content/uploads/clean-air-and-sustainable-cities-in-china.pdf

Chicago

Energy Innovation. CLEAN AIR AND SUSTAINABLE CITIES IN CHINA. 2012. https://energyinnovation.org/wp-content/uploads/clean-air-and-sustainable-cities-in-china.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Energy Innovation |title=CLEAN AIR AND SUSTAINABLE CITIES IN CHINA |date=9 April 2012 |url=https://energyinnovation.org/wp-content/uploads/clean-air-and-sustainable-cities-in-china.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{energyinnovation2012clean, author = {{Energy Innovation}}, title = {{CLEAN AIR AND SUSTAINABLE CITIES IN CHINA}}, institution = {Energy Innovation}, year = {2012}, month = apr, url = {https://energyinnovation.org/wp-content/uploads/clean-air-and-sustainable-cities-in-china.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }