Air pollution decreased in China in 2015 after it used less coal.
Coal use fell almost 4 percent last year. By burning less coal, the Chinese cut carbon dioxide in the air by 2.5 percent.
Carbon dioxide is a major part of air pollution, also called greenhouse gases. It is released into the air when coal is burned.
“China is very serious about tackling air pollution,” said Lauri Myllyvirta of Greenpeace, an environment advocacy group.
Twenty years of economic growth made China the world’s top producer of air pollution and greenhouse gases. The country has moved to hydro, nuclear and solar power and that has cut coal use.
I’m Jim Dresbach.
Shannon Van Sant reported on this story for VOANews.com. Jim Dresbach adapted the report for Learning English. Kathleen Struck was the editor.
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Words in This Story
carbon dioxide – n. a gas that is produced when people and animals breathe out or when certain fuels are burned and that is used by plants for energy
tackling – v. to deal with something difficult
greenhouse gas – n. a gas, like carbon dioxide, that absorbs infrared radiation and trap heat in the air
