Grant: Project Grant

Air pollution is a leading public health problem. Over 400 million Chinese homes burn coal to meet their indoor space heating needs, leading to high levels of air pollution and health impacts in adults and children. Coal burning in China also contributes to poor air quality and mercury contamination in Canada. China recently announced a new policy that bans coal use in the greater-Beijing region and offers a subsidy for transitioning to a new clean heating technology. Our primary objective is to assess whether the coal ban and new clean heating technology will impact air pollution and indoor temperature or the health of people who live in homes impacted by the policy. This study will provide data that will help policy makers to implement household heating programs that reduce air pollution and its health impacts but also keep homes sufficiently warm. Our results will also help Canada to monitor its progress in meeting environmental goals on mercury. We will work with researchers and members of government and civil society in China and Canada to communicate our findings. We will provide regular updates and reports, and hold annual meetings to review our findings and discuss any identified barriers to the policies achieving their intended results.