China Strives to Clean Up Pollution

Weaning Beijing, one of the world's most polluted cities, from coal-fired power will be a small public relations coup for the Communist Party leadership, particularly if it leads to visibly improved air in the city. China's leaders are working hard to contain widespread public dissatisfaction with the government's handling of issues like air and water pollution, food safety and rampant corruption — issues that for many Chinese citizens are difficult to disentangle. With the economy set to slow in the coming years, Beijing's ability to tackle pollution and the corporate and governmental corruption widely believed to exacerbate it will become increasingly important benchmarks of regime legitimacy.