Beijing close to meeting PM2.5 goal

Beijing has seen a significant reduction in PM2.5 as a five-year campaign against air pollution nears its end.

The level of PM2.5 - fine particulate matter with diameter 2.5 microns or less that can be hazardous to health - declined by 34.7 percent in the first seven months of the year, compared with the same period in 2013, the municipal environment bureau said on Monday.

However, the pressure is still on the municipal government to meet the goal of reducing the average PM2.5 concentration to 60 micrograms per cubic meter, as the average PM2.5 concentration last year was 73.