Core Viewpoint - The 2025 Annual Meeting of the Clean Air Policy Partnership (CCAPP) and the seminar on Hainan's "14th Five-Year Plan" for leading air quality and low-carbon development strategies highlighted the importance of collaborative governance in carbon reduction and pollution control during the "14th Five-Year Plan" period [1][2]. Group 1: Achievements and Challenges - Over the past decade, China has made historic achievements in ecological and environmental protection, with economic growth and air quality improvement progressing in tandem, yet structural and trend-related pressures remain [1][2]. - The current improvements in air quality are not stable, necessitating a focus on three areas during the "14th Five-Year Plan": fundamental structural changes in industry, energy, and transportation; comprehensive pollution reduction across key sectors; and the establishment of a management system for air quality with Chinese characteristics [2][5]. Group 2: Hainan's Role and Strategy - Hainan, as China's largest economic special zone and free trade port, is committed to ecological preservation and the strategic goal of becoming a low-carbon island, leveraging its ecological resources and reform platform to achieve collaborative governance of carbon neutrality and clean air [3][4]. - The province aims to enhance cooperation with CCAPP partners to explore unique pathways for collaborative development, showcasing China's ecological civilization achievements [3][4]. Group 3: Policy Implementation and Future Directions - The former chief engineer of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment emphasized the need to address uncertainties in policy implementation affecting carbon and pollution reduction, suggesting measures such as strict control of new coal consumption and promoting clean energy alternatives [5]. - The importance of aligning air quality improvement with carbon peak and Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) goals was highlighted, advocating for a structured approach to air quality enhancement across regions [5].

Core Viewpoint - The report emphasizes the importance of assessing the progress and challenges of carbon neutrality and clean air in China, which is essential for fulfilling international commitments and promoting high-quality domestic development [1] Air Pollution and Climate Change - Ozone (O3) concentration is showing a fluctuating upward trend, with VOCs reduction efforts being insufficient and global warming contributing to increased heatwave days, which are potential reasons for inadequate ozone pollution control [2] - The PM2.5 pollution in 2020 was most severe in cities concentrated in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region and surrounding areas, with a projected overall concentration decrease to 50μg/m³ by 2024 [2] - The distribution of O3 pollution has changed, with new pollution centers emerging in eastern Hubei province, and the overall situation worsening in 2024, particularly in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region and Fenwei Plain [2] Governance System and Practices - China is gradually establishing a multi-departmental collaborative governance system that includes administrative, economic, and social governance methods, although challenges remain, particularly in high carbon emission cities where PM2.5 pollution is more severe [3] Structural Transformation and Governance Technology - The trend in fossil energy consumption is diverging, with a slowdown in coal consumption growth and a decrease in coal power approvals since the 14th Five-Year Plan began, although chemical industry output growth remains a major factor for industrial coal consumption [4] - Advanced manufacturing and digital industries are driving rapid growth in electricity demand, while carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) technologies are developing quickly, with significant milestones achieved in various aspects [4] Atmospheric Composition Sources and Reduction Pathways - From 2020 to 2024, human-induced carbon dioxide emissions increased by 15.4%, posing significant pressure on achieving the carbon reduction targets of the 14th Five-Year Plan, with a cumulative carbon intensity reduction of approximately 7.8% by 2024 compared to 2020 [5] - The stability of terrestrial carbon sinks has been maintained during the 14th Five-Year Plan, but the annual growth rate has slowed, necessitating scientific forest management to sustain carbon sink growth [5] Health Impacts and Synergistic Benefits - The number of deaths attributed to PM2.5 exposure is decreasing, but there has been no significant improvement in deaths related to ozone pollution, with extreme weather events from climate change severely impacting public health [6] - Collaborative governance is expected to yield significant health benefits, requiring further efforts in areas such as integrating clean energy use, building energy efficiency, and improving indoor air quality into pollution reduction policies [6]

Core Viewpoint - China's ecological civilization construction serves as a global model, encouraging and accelerating actions related to air quality management worldwide [1][2]. Group 1: Achievements in Air Quality Management - Air pollution is a significant global challenge and the second leading cause of death worldwide [1]. - China has made substantial progress in air quality management, with 203 cities meeting air quality standards by 2023, representing approximately 60% of the monitored 339 cities [1]. - China is recognized as the fastest country in the world for improving air quality, largely due to the implementation of the Air Pollution Prevention and Control Action Plan initiated in 2013 [1]. Group 2: Policy and Investment Impact - Strict standards, improved monitoring systems, a transition to clean energy, industrial upgrades, and investments in clean transportation have led to significant improvements in air quality in China [2]. - The Chinese government's commitment to ecological civilization has integrated carbon reduction, pollution control, and green growth, creating remarkable ecological and green development achievements [1][2]. Group 3: Global Cooperation and Vision - The United Nations Environment Programme is assisting developing countries, particularly in Africa, to improve air quality through data sharing and regional cooperation [3]. - The Chinese ecological civilization concept aligns with the current global development theme, emphasizing that the pursuit of a clean environment can foster new green industries without sacrificing economic growth [3].