On January 12, 2025, the annual progress meeting for the National Key R&D Program project "Evolution of Atmospheric Oxidation Capacity and Driving Mechanisms of Atmospheric Self-Purification Capability" and the inaugural meeting of the Chinese Alliance on Atmospheric Radical Chemistry (AIRadical-China) were grandly held in Zhuhai.

The conference was hosted by the College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering of Peking University and organized by the School of Atmospheric Sciences of Sun Yat-sen University. It brought together experts and scholars from prestigious universities and research institutions across China, including Peking University, the Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, the Institute of Chemistry, the Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, and the Institute of Atmospheric Physics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Fudan University, Nanjing University, Shandong University, Sun Yat-sen University, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Macau University of Science and Technology, Jinan University, Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, the Chinese Academy of Meteorological Sciences, the Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, the Guangdong Ecological Environment Monitoring Center, the Shanghai Academy of Environmental Sciences, and the Chengdu Academy of Environmental Protection. Together, they witnessed this significant moment marking the entry of China's atmospheric free radical research into a new stage.

The annual progress report of the National Key R&D Program project was delivered during the meeting

Professor Lu Keding, the project lead, presented the latest advancements on behalf of the research team. The team has focused on the core scientific issues of atmospheric oxidation capacity and self-purification capability, conducting in-depth research on the sources of atmospheric free radicals and their key chemical processes.Research Fellow Tan Zhaofeng from Peking University, Research Fellow Wang Weigang from the Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Professor Yuan Bin from Jinan University, Research Fellow Zhang Lin from Peking University, and Director Wang Hongli from the Atmospheric Environment Institute of the Shanghai Academy of Environmental Sciences presented their latest research findings respectively. Their reports covered a closed-loop study on the sources, cycling, and uptake mechanisms of atmospheric free radicals; key reaction kinetics and mechanisms of atmospheric free radicals; critical sources and transformation mechanisms of boundary layer atmospheric free radicals; model-based quantification of the evolution of atmospheric oxidation capacity and self-purification capability; and principles for multi-objective synergistic regulation of atmospheric oxidation capacity along with technical solutions.

Project team presents annual research progress (Top-left: Lu Keding; Top-right: Tan Zhaofeng; Center-left: Wang Weigang; Center-right: Yuan Bin; Bottom-left: Zhang Lin; Bottom-right: Wang Hongli)

The participating experts highly appraised the project's phased achievements, affirming that the research provides crucial scientific support for understanding the complex mechanisms of atmospheric oxidation capacity evolution in China and for improving air quality. Meanwhile, the experts offered valuable suggestions for future research directions, emphasizing the need to further integrate multidisciplinary resources and promote international collaboration.

Comments from Experts (Top-left: Academician Zhang Yuanhang; Top-right: Academician Liu Wenqing; Center-left: Academician Liu Shaochen; Center-right: Academician Chen Jianmin; Bottom-left: Research Fellow Wang Zifa; Bottom-right: Research Fellow Wang Xinming）

Establishment of the Chinese Alliance on Atmospheric Radical Chemistry

During the conference, the Chinese Alliance on Atmospheric Radical Chemistry (AIRadical-China) was officially inaugurated. The alliance is spearheaded by Peking University and established in collaboration with domestic and international universities and research institutions. Operating under the auspices of the Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Ozone Pollution Prevention and Control of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, it aims to systematically advance atmospheric free radical chemistry research in China through standardization and international cooperation.

Professor Lu Keding, as the alliance's initiator, reviewed the development history of atmospheric free radical research in China during his address. He pointed out that advanced measurement techniques for complex atmospheric free radicals represent a critical breakthrough at the international scientific frontier and will also serve major national needs in air quality and climate change management. He emphasized that, supported by the National Key R&D Program during the 13th and 14th Five-Year Plan periods, China has established a "6+1+X" free radical observation network covering the nation, forming the world's largest atmospheric free radical research community and laying a solid foundation for the alliance's establishment.

The alliance is committed to: (1) Establishing unified technical standards for free radical observation and simulation; (2) Constructing a national-scale atmospheric free radical monitoring network; (3) Providing scientific support for national air quality management and climate change policies. The conference also released the White Paper on the Tropospheric Atmospheric Oxidation Capacity Observation Experiment Plan.

Framework (Top) and Scientific Objectives (Bottom): White Paper on Tropospheric Atmospheric Oxidation Capacity Observation Experiment Plan

On the day of its establishment, the alliance announced its inaugural council. Academicians Zhang Yuanhang, Liu Wenqing, and Liu Shaochen serve as Honorary Chairpersons. The academic and technical advisors include Guy Brasseur, Steve Brown, Dwayne Heard, Ronald Cohen, Yinon Rudich, Andreas Wahner, Frank Keutsch, Chen Jianmin, Ge Maofa, Mu Yujing, Ouyang Gangfeng, Shao Min, Wang Tao, Wang Yuesi, Wang Xinming, Wang Zifa, Xie Pinhua, Zhang Weijun, and Zeng Limin. Professor Lu Keding serves as the Chairperson. The Vice Chairpersons are Katsuzumi Kajii (Japan), Wang Weigang, Liu Cheng, Li Xin, Hu Renzhi, Lou Shengrong, Yuan Bin, Zhao Weixiong, Zhang Lin, Wang Guoying, Wang Hongli, and Zhang Xiuhui.The alliance secretariat is composed of Tan Zhaofeng, Wang Haichao, Ma Xuefei, Wei Nana, Li Xiaobing, Chen Xiaorui, and Zhang Guoxian. Furthermore, the alliance brings together over 100 outstanding young scholars, including 28 committee members and 71 general members, demonstrating the vigorous development of the atmospheric free radical research field in China.

It was announced during the conference that Peking University will host the 6th International Summit on Atmospheric Radical Measurements in October 2025. This summit is held once every decade. Previous summits were hosted by Stanford University (1st-3rd), the University of Leeds (4th), and Forschungszentrum Jülich in Germany (5th). This signifies that China is beginning to take on the responsibility of leading the international development of atmospheric free radical chemistry.

Inauguration Ceremony of the Chinese Alliance on Atmospheric Radical Chemistry (AIRadical-China)

The conference marks a new stage in China's research on atmospheric oxidation capacity and radical chemistry. Driven by the dual engines of the National Key R&D Program projects and the alliance, China will continue to strengthen its efforts in areas including atmospheric free radical measurement and simulation technologies, analysis of regional pollution causes, and policy support.

Experts attending the meeting unanimously agreed that the establishment of the alliance creates a high-level cooperation platform for relevant research domestically and internationally, providing a significant opportunity for China to secure a leading position in global atmospheric chemistry research. In the future, through resource sharing, technological innovation, and academic exchange, the alliance will contribute Chinese expertise and solutions to global air quality improvement and the synergistic control of pollution and carbon emissions.