Table 1.

Summary of scenarios used in this study. A detailed description of different scenarios can be found in Supplementary Data (Tables S1 and S2).

Scenario	Definition	Climate constraints	Socioeconomic drivers	End-of-pipe pollution control
Baseline	Baseline offers the reference point for other scenarios. Following the SSP4 highly inequal and isolated mode, the climate constraints are negligible under RCP6.0 and the environmental control would remain at the 2015 level.	RCP6.0	SSP4	Same as 2015 level.
Current-goals	Current-goals presumes China will achieve its NDC pledges and the national PM2.5 air quality standard (i.e. 35 μg/m3) by 2030, elucidating China's future air pollution mitigation pathway towards all the released and upcoming clean air policies since 2015.	RCP4.5	SSP2	Current released and upcoming policies.
Ambitious-pollution-NDC-goals	Ambitious-pollution-NDC-goals shares the same energy and socioeconomic developments with the Current-goals scenario, but would fully deploy the best available end-of-pipe control technologies across all sectors by 2050, and implement them consistently between 2050 and 2060.	RCP4.5	SSP2	Best available end-of-pipe pollution control technologies.
Ambitious-pollution- Neutral-goals	Ambitious-pollution-Neutral-goals is designed to pursue China's carbon neutral commitment and the WHO PM2.5 guideline (i.e. 10 μg/m3) in long-term air quality improvement by 2060. It shares the same end-of-pipe control with the Ambitious-pollution-NDC-goals scenario, but more ambitious climate policies would be implemented to ensure China's net-zero CO2 emissions in 2060.	China's net-zero CO2 emissions in 2060	SSP1	Best available end-of-pipe pollution control technologies.
Ambitious-pollution-2°C-goals	Ambitious-pollution-2°C-goals is designed to pursue the 2°C temperature limits and the WHO PM2.5 guideline (i.e. 10 μg/m3) in long-term air quality improvement by 2060. It shares the same end-of-pipe control with the Ambitious-pollution-NDC-goals scenario, but more ambitious 2°C-consistent climate policies would be implemented.	RCP2.6	SSP1	Best available end-of-pipe pollution control technologies.
Ambitious-pollution-1.5°C-goals	Ambitious-pollution-1.5°C-goals is designed to pursue the 1.5°C temperature limits and the WHO PM2.5 guideline (i.e. 10 μg/m3) in long-term air quality improvement by 2060. It shares the same end-of-pipe control with the Ambitious-pollution-NDC-goals scenario, but more ambitious 1.5°C-consistent climate policies would be implemented.	RCP1.9	SSP1	Best available end-of-pipe pollution control technologies.