Representatives from 16 government departments in Beijing E-town Development Area convened on Feb 22 to discuss new solutions for tackling air pollution in the area.

The conference passed an air pollution prevention plan for 2017, with the aim of reducing PM 2.5 density to 65 micrograms per cubic meter by the end of this year.

According to statistics from the environment department, the average density of PM 2.5 in the area was 81 micrograms per cubic meter in 2016, down by 13.8 percent on the previous year.

In order to meet the target, the area’s administration proposed a plan consisting of 47 actions to strengthen environmental governance.

“We hope the plan can have a positive impact on pollution prevention this year. Every department must take responsibility, work with each other and carry out the implementation of the plan,” said Chen Xiaonan, vice-director of the administration.

The plan includes the control of waste gases, adjustment of energy structure and strict surveillance of the fine particle density in the air.