China’s Rethink on Car Pollution May Signal a Retreat on Climate
Seeking to bolster growth in the wake of the coronavirus, the government may water down emissions standards.
Photographer: Frédéric Soltan/Getty Images
Beijing's move toward relaxing emissions standards will ratchet up concern that policymakers around the world may scale back their climate goals as they seek to rescue their economies from the ravages of the coronavirus.
The Chinese government is said to be debating whether to ease restrictions on the amount of harmful particles that vehicles emit from their tailpipes — a measure known as particle number, or PN. The move would help automakers battling an unprecedented slump as the pandemic slows economic activity. It could be just one of the steps by the government in Beijing to shore up key sectors.