( CNN ) -- Let the naming and shaming begin . China will start to point the finger at its top ten most air-polluted cities -- each and every month -- in the hopes that national humiliation will push positive environmental action . A parallel list of the nation 's ten cities with best air qualities will also be published . Beijing 's political -- and very public -- pressure on its most polluted cities comes within a year of the capital reporting its worst air quality levels in recorded history and an Asian Development Bank study showing seven of the world 's top ten most air-polluted cities were in China . `` We must put air quality control as an ecological red line for economic management and social development , '' said China 's Vice Premier Zhang Gao Li , in a statement . On Wednesday , he announced the new policy at the 18th Air Pollution Control Conference in Beijing . `` Air pollution control is a long , arduous and complex mission . We need to highlight the control of major polluted cities and strengthen the reduction and management of various polluters , '' added Zhang . Chinese officials did not say when the first list would be announced , but the northern megacities of Beijing and Tianjin , as well as the surrounding provinces of Hebei , Shanxi , Inner Mongolia and Shandong have signed onto an official plan to speed up air pollution control measures . This past August , an official environmental assessment found these six regions to be China 's most polluted . `` I think the policy is a very good inspirational mechanism , especially for those cities on the 'shaming ' list , so that they can work to get off the list quicker , '' said Huang Wei , Climate and Energy Campaigner at Greenpeace China , to CNN . `` However , it is not enough to rank those cities . It 's also important to control energy , especially coal consumption . Some cities did n't clarify how much they are going to reduce their coal consumption . The lack of a number makes us worried that there wo n't be any dramatic change in terms of air quality . '' Earlier this month , the central government said it would stop approving coal-fired power plants in more heavily polluted industrial areas . It also announced a national blueprint to lower the concentration of harmful particles in the air -- much of it caused by the burning of coal -- by at least 10 % between 2012 and 2017 levels . In heavily polluted areas , including China 's north , targets will be more stringent . Beijing , Tianjin and Hebei , all signatories to this week 's new air pollution control plan , aim to cut particles by 25 % . In southern China 's Pearl River Delta , across the border from Hong Kong , the goal is 15 % . `` We know high-ranking officials really want to tackle the ( air pollution ) problem but in reality how much does this help ? '' said Sum Yin Kwong , CEO of the Clean Air Network in Hong Kong , to CNN . `` It all might be more symbolic because when you look at the regional or local level , growth is measured by GDP , not by how environmental the city has become . I 'm not too optimistic , '' added Kwong . China is the world 's largest consumer of coal by volume and will continue to be for years , relying on the fossil fuel for 70-80 % of its energy needs , according to various experts and the World Coal Association . Much of that energy goes towards electricity for factories and for winter heating . Beijing says it hopes to reduce the nation 's coal consumption to 65 % by 2017 . In comparison , Australia draws about 75 % of its electricity from coal , according to the Australian Coal Association . The United States generated 37 % of its electricity from coal in 2012 , according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration . As people in China have grown wealthier , they have increased demands on the government for a cleaner environment . This past July , a landmark study by Chinese and international academics revealed that severe pollution and toxic air slashed an average of five and a half years of life expectancy for residents of northern China . According to a recent Greenpeace report , 83,500 people died prematurely in 2011 from respiratory diseases in Shandong , Inner Mongolia and Shanxi -- China 's top three coal-consuming provinces .
China to name and shame top ten worst-polluting cities each month . 'Air quality control is ecological red line , ' says Chinese vice-premier . Beijing , Tianjin , cities in northern provinces have signed plan to speed up air pollution control . Seven of world 's top ten most air-polluted cities in China , says ADB report .