China's capital Beijing, seen here in contrast between blue-sky and smog-filled days, recorded historic air pollution levels in January 2013. Hazardous air quality days have pushed Beijing to enact stricter air pollution policies for the country -- including naming and shaming the nation's top ten worst polluting cities.
China names, shames worst-polluting cities —
China's capital Beijing, seen here in contrast between blue-sky and smog-filled days, recorded historic air pollution levels in January 2013. Hazardous air quality days have pushed Beijing to enact stricter air pollution policies for the country -- including naming and shaming the nation's top ten worst polluting cities.
CY Xu/cnn
Tourists visit Beijing's Tian'anmen Square during record air pollution in January 2013. The haze that choked many Chinese cities during this time covered 1.43 million square kilometers, said China's Ministry of Environmental Protection.
China names, shames worst-polluting cities —
Tourists visit Beijing's Tian'anmen Square during record air pollution in January 2013. The haze that choked many Chinese cities during this time covered 1.43 million square kilometers, said China's Ministry of Environmental Protection.
Feng Li/Getty Images
A stark comparison between the clear blue sky image on this LED screen in Tian'anmen Square, January 2013, against the grey smog reality. Beijing saw record levels of air pollution at the turn of the new year.
China names, shames worst-polluting cities —
A stark comparison between the clear blue sky image on this LED screen in Tian'anmen Square, January 2013, against the grey smog reality. Beijing saw record levels of air pollution at the turn of the new year.
Feng Li/Getty Images
China relies on coal for 70-80% of its electricity needs, for everything from factories to winter heating, according to various experts. This photo taken in March 2011 shows pollutants billowing out of a chimney amid a group of residential housings in Beijing.
China names, shames worst-polluting cities —
China relies on coal for 70-80% of its electricity needs, for everything from factories to winter heating, according to various experts. This photo taken in March 2011 shows pollutants billowing out of a chimney amid a group of residential housings in Beijing.
Gou Yige/AFP/Getty Images/file
A worker moves coal briquettes onto a pedicab at a coal distribution business in central China's Anhui province in January 2013. Environmental concerns -- particularly over the use of coal -- have been pushed to the top of the national agenda after record air pollution in the past year.
China names, shames worst-polluting cities —
A worker moves coal briquettes onto a pedicab at a coal distribution business in central China's Anhui province in January 2013. Environmental concerns -- particularly over the use of coal -- have been pushed to the top of the national agenda after record air pollution in the past year.
STR/AFP/Getty Images
Chinese motorists wear masks as they make their way along a busy intersection in central China's Hubei province in June 2012. A landmark study in 2013 by Chinese and international academics found toxic air slashed an average of five and a half years off life expectancy in northern China.
China names, shames worst-polluting cities —
Chinese motorists wear masks as they make their way along a busy intersection in central China's Hubei province in June 2012. A landmark study in 2013 by Chinese and international academics found toxic air slashed an average of five and a half years off life expectancy in northern China.
STR/AFP/GettyImages/file
A woman rides a bike in the heavy smog with a mask on a street in central China's Anhui province in January 2013. Greenpeace released a 2013 report claiming that 83,500 people died prematurely in 2011 from respiratory diseases in Shandong, Inner Mongolia and Shanxi -- China's top three coal-consuming provinces.
China names, shames worst-polluting cities —
A woman rides a bike in the heavy smog with a mask on a street in central China's Anhui province in January 2013. Greenpeace released a 2013 report claiming that 83,500 people died prematurely in 2011 from respiratory diseases in Shandong, Inner Mongolia and Shanxi -- China's top three coal-consuming provinces.
STR/AFP/Getty Images/File
As many people in China have grown wealthier, they have increased demands on the government for a cleaner environment for themselves and their families.
China names, shames worst-polluting cities —
As many people in China have grown wealthier, they have increased demands on the government for a cleaner environment for themselves and their families.
PHILIPPE LOPEZ/AFP/GettyImages