China’s Clean Air Actions Have Reduced Rural-Urban and Geographic Disparities in Air Pollution Exposure

Abstract

China’s air quality has improved significantly since 2013 due to the implementation of strict clean air policies prioritizing highly polluted regions. However, the effectiveness of those actions on reducing environmental inequality is not clear. Here, we analyzed the air pollution disparity changes in China from 2013 to 2018 using a combination of air quality, population and urbanization data. For PM_2.5, PM₁₀, NO₂, SO₂ and CO, we found a general decline in both rural-urban disparity and geographic disparity, with SO₂ and CO showing the most substantial reductions. For O₃, we found mixed changes in rural-urban disparity and an increase in geographic disparity. Our findings suggest that China’s air pollution control strategies have been effective in improving overall air quality and reducing exposure inequalities. We underscore the importance of strategies to reduce NO₂ emissions, given its significant rural-urban and geographic disparities, and its role as a precursor to both PM_2.5 and O₃. This study highlights the effectiveness of China’s clean air actions from a different perspective and emphasizes the need to further improve air quality and alleviate remaining disparities.