Shanghai Achieves Significant Environmental Improvements in 2022

Over the past year, Shanghai has demonstrated a strong commitment to improving its environmental conditions, resulting in significant advancements across key ecological indicators. According to Yan Bo, the director of the Shanghai Municipal Bureau of Ecology and Environment, the city's air has been classified as "good" for 88.5% of days in the year, reflecting a slight increase from the previous year. The PM2.5 concentration remained consistently low at 28.4 micrograms per cubic meter, indicating continued efforts in air quality management.

In addition to air quality, Shanghai has excelled in water quality management. The city reported that 99.3% of its surface water is categorized as Grade III or higher, marking a 1.5% improvement from the previous year, representing the highest level in recent history. To combat pollution directly at its sources, extensive inspections were carried out on over a million pollutant-discharging outlets, successfully regulating around 360,000 to minimize their ecological impact.

The transformation of once-industrial areas along the Huangpu River and Suzhou Creek has been a notable achievement, with these regions being reimagined as vibrant green spaces for leisure and recreation. Areas like the Yangpu and Xuhui riversides, previously dominated by industrial practices, are now inviting environments for residents to enjoy.

Additionally, access to green spaces has been prioritized by the city, with 849 parks operating 24/7, making up 87.3% of all parks in Shanghai. These parks serve vital community purposes, offering activities related to relaxation, fitness, art, culture, and education, thus enhancing the quality of life for Shanghai’s residents.

Looking to the future, Shanghai is focused on further enhancing the quality of air, soil, and water while addressing challenges like noise pollution and emissions from cooking. The city plans to work closely with nearby urban areas to strengthen cooperative pollution control efforts within the Yangtze River Delta, promoting a unified approach to environmental preservation.

At the grassroots level, plans are underway to develop a variety of habitat gardens this year, which will explore innovative solutions to ensure that urban living can harmoniously coexist with nature in a sprawling megacity landscape.