How China Cleaned Up Its Air — And What Delhi Can Learn From It
December 12, 2025 — ZenX News Desk
Each winter, New Delhi and its surrounding regions are engulfed by hazardous smog, pushing air quality levels into the “severe” category. This year has been no exception, with pollution readings soaring as smoke from fireworks, farm fires, traffic congestion and industrial activity gets trapped by colder air.
While India continues to struggle with worsening air pollution across dozens of cities, its neighbour China offers a striking example of how determined policy action can deliver results. Once labelled the world’s “smog capital”, Beijing has undergone a dramatic transformation, emerging as a case study in urban air quality management.
From Smog to Strategy
Two decades ago, Beijing’s air was among the most polluted on the planet. The turnin...