Living Longer, Thanks to Cleaner Air

A decade after declaring a “war on pollution,” China has achieved one of the world’s most dramatic environmental turnarounds.

“Because of these air quality improvements, the average Chinese citizen can expect to live two years longer, provided the reductions are sustained,” the report found. In Beijing alone, residents could gain nearly four extra years of life.

Since 2013, the country has cut particulate pollution by 41%, and by 2022, the air in Beijing was 54% cleaner than it had been nine years earlier, saving lives and reshaping global pollution trends. China’s success has significantly contributed to a global decline in pollution, demonstrating that strong policy, innovative technology, and public pressure can deliver rapid and measurable health benefits. While air pollution still exceeds WHO limits, the results prove that clean air is within reach and that every breath of progress counts.