Chinese Premier Li Keqiang pledged Sunday to make the country's smoggy skies blue again and "work faster" to address pollution caused by the burning of coal for heat and electricity. (Kevin Frayer/Getty Images)In a report to China's ceremonial legislature, Li said that "people are desperately hoping for" faster progress to improve air quality. (Kevin Frayer/Getty Images)Despite China's lingering dependence on coal plants, its consumption of the energy source fell in 2016 for a third year in a row. They include a 25-per-cent reduction in the density of fine particulate matter — a gauge of air pollution — in Beijing and the surrounding region from 2012 levels. Official data show an improvement in China's air quality since 2013, when the government brought out its air pollution action plan.

Source: CBC News March 05, 2017 17:59 UTC