Since the start of the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25), Hohhot has prioritized air quality improvement as a key livelihood issue.

Hohhot has completed comprehensive coal-burning control for 267,200 households, and its air quality management was ranked first nationwide by Clean Air Asia. It has also been selected as a pilot city for climate-adaptive urban construction, the only city in Inner Mongolia to receive this honor.

Hohhot was chosen to participate in national pilot programs for soil and groundwater pollution control in chemical parks and coal-based solid waste ecological restoration. Following its inclusion in the "Zero-Waste City" list in 2022, Hohhot developed a "zero-waste park + industrial resource utilization" model.

Hohhot’s urban sewage treatment capacity increased from 520,000 to 640,000 metric tons per day, with a treatment rate exceeding 96 percent. It prioritized water resource management and utilization, launching the third phase of the Yellow River water diversion project and being approved as a "National Sponge City Demonstration City". It was also selected for pilot programs in typical regional recycled water utilization and regional recycled water circulation.

Through the integrated use of soil improvement, vegetation reconstruction, and smart irrigation technology, previously desertified land has been revitalized.

Hohhot coordinates integrated environmental protection and systematic management. It has completed multiple environmental protection projects, completing 570,000 mu (38,000 hectares) of desertification prevention and control tasks two years ahead of schedule, and controlling a soil erosion area of 799 square kilometers.

Hohhot's "green indicators" meet national standards, with a green space rate of 41.1 percent, a green coverage rate of 43.9 percent, and a per capita park green area of 15.7 square meters.

Hohhot has taken the lead in the region by promoting the construction of energy resource headquarters and green power consumption demonstration zones. The city achieved a breakthrough in "green certificate" trading, marking substantial progress in using market mechanisms to promote green electricity consumption and drive energy structure transformation.

Hohhot under geen development.[Photo/Hohhot Convergence Media]