China bans new coal-fired plants in Beijing and two key regions

Latest effort to curb unabated air pollution.

China’s State Council said it will forbid the construction of new coal-fired power plants in the region surrounding Beijing; the Yangtze Delta region near Shanghai and the Pearl River Delta region in Guangdong.

The move by China's Cabinet also seeks to limit China’s percentage of total primary energy use derived from coal to less than 65% by 2017 from the current 70%. Much of China’s infamous air pollution comes from coal burned in power plants to produce electricity.

The State Council described China’s air pollution problem as grim and that air pollution is harming people's health and affecting social harmony and stability.