China’s environmental progress continued strongly throughout 2024, according to a new report reviewed by lawmakers. The Standing Committee of the 14th National People’s Congress opened its 15th session in Beijing on Sunday. During the session, Minister of Ecology and Environment Huang Runqiu presented a detailed report. He explained that the environmental progress showed solid gains in air, water, and soil quality last year. In fact, all key indicators marked an upward trend compared to 2023.
Air quality improvements formed a major highlight of China’s environmental progress in 2024. The country recorded 87.2 percent of days with good air quality, rising 1.7 percentage points from 2023. Meanwhile, heavily polluted days dropped by 0.7 percentage points, now standing at a low 0.9 percent. Huang stressed that better air quality reflected effective policy actions and stronger enforcement. Moreover, the focus on cutting PM2.5 levels remains a central goal for next year.
Water resources also benefited from China’s environmental progress over the past year. Surface water quality improved steadily across major rivers and lakes nationwide. Furthermore, groundwater and seawater quality maintained a stable and healthy condition. Huang emphasized that sustained efforts in pollution control produced visible benefits in these areas. He assured lawmakers that water protection strategies will continue in 2025.
Efforts to reduce soil pollution advanced significantly during 2024, supporting the environmental progress. Heavy metal levels at critical monitoring sites showed a noticeable downward trend. Early signs suggested that further soil deterioration had been preliminarily contained. Huang credited stricter regulations and new technologies for these results. Additionally, he outlined plans to expand soil monitoring efforts in 2025.
Looking ahead, officials plan to build on China’s environmental progress during the final year of the 14th Five-Year Plan. Huang underlined the importance of lowering PM2.5 concentrations even further. He also stressed the need to boost the share of good air quality days. The government remains committed to fully achieving the environmental goals set for 2025. With continued momentum, China’s environmental progress is expected to reach new milestones next year.
