How China is winning its war on air pollution, at least in Beijing

Pollution in the capital fell by 54% in fourth quarter: Greenpeace

China is seeing signs of success in its fight against smog as pollution levels slump dramatically in the capital region Beijing. 

Concentrations of PM2.5 — the tiny particles that pose the greatest health risks — plunged 33 percent from a year earlier in the fourth quarter across Beijing, Tianjin and 26 surrounding cities, Greenpeace East Asia said in a report Thursday. Levels in the capital alone tumbled 54 percent. The drops come after government policies last year forced millions of homes and businesses to switch from coal to cleaner-burning natural gas.

The bluer skies came at a price, as the widespread switching