- A. Current status of air quality
The statistics data shows that the percentage of days with Air Quality Index (AQI) ≦ 100 (moderate to good air quality) exceeded 93% in 2023 after factoring out the effects of dust storms, and even the number of days with AQI >150 (Unhealthy and Hazardous categories) is 0.5%.
The concentrations of each criterion air pollutant also showed a trend of improvement year by year. The annual average concentration of PM2.5 presented by manual calibration stations is 13.7 μg/m3 in 2023, and the annual average concentration from ambient auto-monitoring stations of suspended particulates matter (PM10), ozone (O3), sulfur dioxide (SO2), and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) are 30.3 μg/m3, 30.8 ppb, 1.22 ppb, and 9.4 ppb, respectively, in 2023.
- B. Air quality management measures
The “Air pollution control program (2024-2027)” (referred to as the phase 2 program) continues the efforts of the air pollution control program (2020-2023) (referred to as the phase 1 program) to further improve PM2.5 and O3-8hr air quality. The phase 2 program focuses on precise management of regional and seasonal air quality issues while aligning with the 2050 net-zero policy to enhance co-benefits in pollution and carbon reduction. The phase 2 program aims to improve the national annual average concentration of PM2.5 to 13.0 μg/m³ by 2027 and to decrease the number of AQI>150 O3-8hr station-days by 80% compared to the baseline year 2019.
Considering national policy planning, cross-departmental cooperation, and the development of air pollution control technologies, this program outlines eight major control strategies, which include: (1) Advancing Industry Emission Reduction Techniques, (2) Comprehensive management of vehicles and equipment, (3) Establishing cross-ministry project management, (4) Air pollution management for major development projects in key region, (5) Season-specific strengthened response, (6) Achieving net zero and pollution reduction by 2050, (7) Emission reduction by economic incentives, and (8) Comprehensive management and support that can help promote the implementation of air pollution reduction strategies.