National Ecological Civilization Construction Demonstration Zone and PM2.5 Pollution Mitigation in China

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At the beginning of 2016, China took a crucial step in the process of institutionalizing ecological protection. The establishment of the National Ecological Civilization Construction Demonstration Zone (NECCDZ) is an important measure by the Chinese government to promote sustainable development and strengthen ecological and environmental protection. This policy aims to lead by demonstration, promote green development, and improve the regional ecological environment quality. The policy calls for coordinated actions in ecological protection, industrial transformation, and pollution prevention. It also strengthens provincial supervision and encourages cooperation among local governments to improve regional ecological quality.

The policy initially recognized 46 regions, ranging from Yanqing District in Beijing to Huzhou City in Zhejiang Province, marking the official launch of demonstration zone construction. Subsequently, the policy continued to advance. In 2018, a second batch of 45 regions was announced, significantly accelerating the construction process; in 2019, 84 additional regions were added, expanding coverage and showing initial results; in 2020, another 87 regions were approved, further improving the system; and in 2021, the number increased to 100 regions with more diverse regional types. By this point, the demonstration zone construction had formed a scaled and systematic advancement pattern .

Source: Zhong, S.; Wang, Y.; Jin, D. National Ecological Civilization Construction Demonstration Zone and PM2.5 Pollution Mitigation in China. Sustainability 2025, 17, 9765. https://doi.org/10.3390/su17219765