Environment ministry sets 2035 PM2.5 standard at 8 micrograms

Taipei, May 16 (CNA) The Ministry of Environment (MOENV) on Friday released its latest PM2.5 limit, setting it at 10 micrograms (µg) per square meter for 2030 and 8 µg per square meter in 2035.

The current standard limit for PM2.5 is 12.4 µg per square meter, meaning that concentrations of 12.5 µg per square meter or over will be defined as "normal" air quality rather than "fair" air quality.

At a press conference releasing the latest white paper for air quality policies, Environment Minister Peng Chi-ming (彭啓明) said that policies will include enhanced control strategies, amending laws and regulations related to air quality control, and collaboration with other government departments.

A major challenge in improving air quality is that although Taiwan's air quality is ranked among the best in Asia -- second only to Japan -- many people either do not notice the progress or even believe it has worsened, Peng said.

The annual average concentration of PM2.5 has dropped from 20 µg per square meter in 2016 to 12.8 µg per square meter in 2024, Peng noted.

Therefore, the white paper attempts to develop policy visions accessible to the people.

According to information collected in the white paper, the public is most concerned about pollution emitted in transportation, with industrial pollution following and pollutants from daily life coming third, Peng said.

MOENV Department of Atmospheric Environment head Huang Wei-ming (黃偉鳴) said there were four core chapters in the white paper, including promoting sustainability and health for all people, refining key points to improving air pollution, pollution reduction measures based on net-zero and co-beneficial goals, and technological application and citizen involvement.

The Air Quality Policy White Paper has collected 570 suggestions from the public and experts, shaping out 42 key issues and counting out 62 concrete tasks, including the amendment of the Air Pollution Control Act, Peng said.