In December, 2020, China produced 91.2521 million tons of crude steel, a year-on-year increase of 7.75%

Elshinebal, a 50-year-old farmer in Tacheng, a city in the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, used to burn coal for heating and cooking in his suburban bungalow and describes his coal-laden life back then as "dusty".

Authorities also said they will enhance efforts to clean up the environment.

From January to December, China produced 1053 million tons of crude steel, with a year-on-year growth of 5.16%.

The new guideline is part of efforts to align governance of climate change with environmental conservation.

Key environmental indicators in Shanghai, such as air and water quality, had improved greatly during the period of the country's 13th Five-Year Plan (2016-2020).

China's coal imports bounced back in December as domestic demand for the fuel surged during the harsh early winter.

China has sent a strong signal that it will ramp up efforts to curb carbon emissions with a vow to include climate impact in the nation's environmental impact assessment.