Greenpeace Links Beijing’s Air Pollution Surge to Steel Factories -
Despite promises to cut steel overcapacity, China actually brought more steel production online last year, resulting in a surge in
air pollution in northern China, especially around Beijing, according to a report released this week by Greenpeace East Asia.
The report, released Monday, shows how powerful state-owned enterprises
and local officials have acted to keep steel companies operating out of economic self-interest despite a serious overcapacity problem in the industry.
The increase in steel production, which is powered by the burning of coal, also means
that levels of greenhouse gas emissions from that sector almost certainly grew last year, compared with 2015 levels.
The growth in operating capacity was more than twice the total steel making capacity of Britain, the report said.
Officials said that efforts last year to cut capacity had exceeded targets set for the year.
The report said 10 Chinese provinces increased their operating steel production capacity.
The steel industry is the second biggest emitter of carbon dioxide, the main greenhouse
gas; the first is power generation, which also relies mostly on coal.
