China's Central government established national goals to reduce sulfur dioxide (SO2) emissions by 10% in both the 10th and 11th Five‐year Plan periods, 2001–2005 and 2006–2010, respectively. But the early policies were unsuccessful at reducing emissions–emissions increased 28% during the 10th Five‐year Plan. After adapting a number of policies and introducing new instruments during the 11th Five‐year Plan, SO2 emissions declined by 14%. We examine the evolution of these policies, their interplay with technical and institutional factors, and capture lessons from the 11th Five‐year Plan to guide future pollution control programs. We find that several factors contributed to achievement of the 11th Five‐year Plan SO2 reduction goal: (1) instrument choice, (2) political accountability, (3) emission verification, (4) political support, (5) streamlined targets, and (6) political and financial incentives. The approach integrated multiple policy instruments–market‐based, command‐and‐control, and administrative instruments specific to the Chinese context. The evolution of SO2 reduction policies and programs has implications for further SO2 reductions from power plants and other sources, as well as control of other atmospheric pollutants such as nitrogen oxides (NO
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) and carbon dioxide (CO2) in China.
