A monitoring system for greenhouse gas concentrations has been launched in north China’s coal-rich Shanxi province as local authorities hope to better deal with climate change by using first-hand emission data.
It is the first such monitoring system that has been built among provincial-level regions in the country.
The system can monitor the concentration of carbon dioxide, methane, ozone, carbon monoxide, sulphur dioxide, oxynitride and particulate matter in the air and publish the data in a timely manner, a spokesman with the Shanxi Provincial Meteorological Administration said.
“It can provide first-hand information of greenhouse gas concentrations in the province and give suggestions to local governments at various levels on how to deal with climate change,” the spokesman said.
The monitoring system was jointly launched by the China Meteorological Administration, Shanxi Provincial Development and Reform Commission, Shanxi Provincial Science and Technology Department and Shanxi Provincial Meteorological Administration.
Construction of the monitoring system began in November last year, with an investment of 10.25 million yuan (1.63 million US dollars) for its first phase.
It now operates a central monitoring station and three sub-stations in the cities of Taiyuan, Datong and Linyi.
Shanxi’s coal output accounts for about one-fourth of the country’s total. It is meanwhile a large energy-consuming province with high carbon emissions.
The Chinese government plans to cut 2020 greenhouse gas emissions by 40 to 45 percent compared with 2005 levels.
