Clean Air China (CAC) Consolidation Phase


Air pollution poses a  significant challenge  to public health, environmental sustainability and the climate particularly in Asian countries such as China. Knowing the sources of pollution is essential  to  formulate adequate policies. The Swiss Paul Scherrer  Institute  (PSI)  together with  its Chinese  partners from the Institute of Earth Environment (IEE) will transfer an innovative air pollution source identification  model  developed  under  phase  1  and  capacitate  the  cities  to  run  the  model  independently.  

Country/region Topic Period Budget
China
Climate change and environment
Biosphere protection
Environmental policy
15.10.2024 - 15.02.2026
CHF  550’000
Background

Air  pollution  is  a major  threat  to  public  health causing between 1.5 and 2.2 million premature deaths  per  year  in China  only.  The  pollutants also affect the climate. China like other countries and  cities  around  the world  is  confronted with the  challenge  of  adopting  effective  science-based  policies  to  improve  air  quality. 

Understanding  the  sources  of  pollutants  is particularly  difficult  in  the  case  of  secondary pollutants. They are concerning as they can be formed  from  various  combination  of  many different  compounds. The PSI  plays  a  leading role worldwide  in  developing  specific  scientific models  tracing back  the sources of secondary pollutants and the conditions  of  their  formation in real time. Developed through a collaboration between  Swiss  and  Chinese  institutes,  the model from phase 1 of the DEZA-PMF project is now ready for transfer to cities.  

Objectives Relevant  chinese  authorities  are  equipped  and can  run a scientific model  allowing  to  trace back the sources  of secondary pollutants  in  real  time, allowing  them  ultimately  to  take  appropiate measures  to  accelerate  their  fight  against air pollution. 
Target groups

Direct:  The  male  and  female  employees  of  the municipal  Environment  and  Ecology  Bureaus (EEBs) of Beijing, Xi’an, Chongqing and Wuhan in charge of air quality control.  

Indirect: 80 million  inhabitants  of  the  4  cities who will benefit from improved air quality in the long term (beyond  project  timeline)  due  to  policies  adopted based on the scientific data given by the model. 

Medium-term outcomes The  four  targeted  cities  in China  have  improved their capacities to identify the sources of pollution.  
Results

Expected results:  

Output  1  Enabling  model  optimization  and validation for training and demonstration. 

Output 2 Training and documentation to ensure that  real-time  source  apportionment  is integrated into the monitoring frameworks of the pilot cities. 

Output  3  The  knowledge  and  experience developed  by  the  project  are  effectively disseminated and used. 


Results from previous phases:  

  • A  real-time source apportionment model has been  developed  under  the  lead  of  PSI  in collaboration with the (IEE). 
  • Using  the model, city  reports were produced analyzing  the  sources  of  pollution  in  Beijing, Xi’an,  Wuhan,  Chongqing,  Langfang  and Shijiazhuang.  
  • Based on the results, the city of Xi’an adjusted its policies on the burning of biomass fuel. 
  • Due to Covid-O restrictions in China, the model during phase 1, could not fully be transferred to the  end  beneficiaries  i.e.  selected  municipal Environment and Ecology Bureaus (EEBs).  


Directorate/federal office responsible SDC
Project partners Contract partner
Private sector
Swiss Academic and Research Institution
  • PaulScherrerInstitut
  • Foreign private sector South/East

Implementing partner
Swiss  Paul  Scherrer  Institute  (PSI)  with  the Institute of Earth Environment  (IEE)  as a  sub-contractor. 

Coordination with other projects and actors Ministry  of  Environment  and  Ecology  (MEE); NGOs active on the topic of air pollution in China and  in  the  region  (e.g.  Clean  Air  Asia); Coordination  with  other  SDC  projects  on  air pollution in Asia (e.g. in India).  
Budget Current phase Swiss budget CHF    550’000 Swiss disbursement to date CHF    180’000 Total project since first phase Swiss budget CHF   3’125’120 Budget inclusive project partner CHF   3’675’120
Project phases Phase 2 15.10.2024 - 15.02.2026   (Current phase) Phase 1 01.05.2018 - 31.12.2023   (Active)