Beijing air quality improved in 2015 despite pollution alerts, authorities say

Environmental authorities say the Chinese capital's air quality in 2015 was better than the year before despite the city's first two red alerts for pollution late in the year

Environmental authorities in Beijing say the Chinese capital's air quality in 2015 was better than the year before despite the city's first two red alerts for pollution late in the year.

China has been setting national and local targets to reduce its notorious air pollution as citizens have become increasingly aware of the health dangers. Beijing's municipal government has been replacing coal-fired boilers with natural gas-powered facilities, forcing older, more polluting vehicles off the road, and closing or moving factories that are heavy polluters.