China’s Coal Ban Improved Air Quality, but Villagers Are Paying the Price

New York Times - WorldCenter-LeftEN 6 min read 100% complete by Vivian WangJanuary 14, 2026 at 05:02 AM

AI Summary

long article 6 min

In 2017, China banned coal burning for residential heating in areas around Beijing, including Hebei Province, to combat air pollution. Initially, the government subsidized natural gas as a replacement, but these subsidies have been sharply reduced or eliminated this winter. Consequently, villagers in areas like Quyang County are struggling to afford heating, with some spending a significant portion of their pensions on natural gas. Many are resorting to sunbathing for warmth to reduce costs, despite freezing temperatures. The situation has sparked public concern and calls for the government to relax the coal ban or reinstate subsidies, as residents face difficult choices between heating and affordability.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Qilai Shen ×240% Vivian Wang ×250% Dong Tongzhou ×570% Hebei Province ×270% Quyang County ×370% Beijing ×380% China ×490%

Keywords

coal ban 90% natural gas subsidies 80% air quality 70% energy poverty 70% cleaner air 60% residential heating 60% environmental policy 60% beijing 50% hebei province 50%

Sentiment Analysis

Very Negative

Score: -0.60

Source Transparency

Source

New York Times - World

Political Lean

Center-Left (-0.30)

Far LeftCenterFar Right

Classification Confidence

90%

Geographic Perspective

China

This article was automatically classified using rule-based analysis. The political bias score ranges from -1 (far left) to +1 (far right).

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coal ban natural gas subsidies air quality energy poverty cleaner air residential heating environmental policy beijing hebei province

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