Chinese experts pointed out that frequently occurring heavy smog is mainly caused by human activity. In a recent interview by People’s Daily, the experts predicted that average PM 2.5 concentration in Beijing will decrease to 35 micrograms per cubic meter after 2025.

According to He Kebin, dean and professor of the School of Environment at Tsinghua University, the heavy smog is mainly caused by activities like coal burning and exhaust created by motor vehicles. In addition, bad weather conditions also aggravate the pollution and raise the air quality index.

Human activity can also affect temperature inversion, reinforcing air pollution, which then further affects temperature inversion, according to Zhang Xiaoye, director of the atmospheric composition committee under the Chinese Meteorological Society.

Zhou Bing, chief scientist at the meteorological administration of the National Climate Center of China, agreed that global warming plays a role in forming smog. At the same time, increased wind speed, shifting wind direction, precipitation, the clearance of temperature inversion and other factors can alleviate heavy smog, according to Zhang Hengde, deputy director of the Environmental Meteorological Center of China.

As for the future focus of pollution reduction campaigns, He noted that power plants have already reduced their emissions, so the next step should be stricter management of industrial boilers, scattered coal and motor vehicles. He also urged the government to step up its efforts to adjust and upgrade its energy and industrial structures, in order to cut emissions.

Chang Jiwen, vice director-general of the Research Institute for Resources and Environment Policies under the Development Research Center of the State Council, suggested that Beijing and its surrounding cities should upgrade their urban design to be more in sync with basic geological, meteorological and ecological conditions, thus creating sustainable urban centers for production and daily life.