Environmental policy shifts in the US and air quality improvements in Beijing

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has expressed support for the Trump administration's environmental policies, arguing that reversing certain mandates will benefit the American economy. The EPA highlighted a White House Council of Economic Advisers (CEA) report criticizing Democratic proposals, such as the Green New Deal. The CEA report suggests that several proposed mobility and environmental policies could result in a federal deficit of $49 trillion over ten years. Consequently, the EPA is backing the removal of incentives for electric vehicles and the reversal of previous fuel standards.

In China, Beijing has seen a significant reduction in air pollution over the last 12 years. Data from the Municipal Ecology and Environment Bureau shows that the concentration of PM2.5 particles—a key measure of urban air quality—dropped from 89.5 micrograms per cubic meter in 2013 to 27 micrograms in 2025. This represents a nearly 98% decrease, marking the first time the capital has fallen below the national threshold of 30 micrograms per year.