Haze weather characterized by PM2.5 has become a serious environmental pollution problem in major Chinese cities recently

which has bad effect on the air quality and human health. Coal burning may be one of the critical factors of haze pollution because coal is the most important energy source in China. It is significant to figure out the pollutant sources and causation mechanism of urban haze to indicate directions and support theoretical basis for the atmospheric pollution prevention and control. Based on a new perspective of systematic methodology

the fault tree analysis (FTA) method is employed and investigated for the causation mechanism analysis and risk management of urban haze related to coal burning for Tianjin in this work. All of the important risk factors are discussed and identified by using this deductive FTA method. After the fault tree “haze weather-excess emission of coal-fired exhausts” is established

the qualitative and quantitative assessments based on the minimal cut sets

the structure

probability and critical importance degree analysis of those risk factors in the fault tree system are also carried out for Tianjin city. The analysis results show that “unreasonable energy structure” and “without sustainable cleaner energy” are the most important risk factors for causing excess coal burning. This study may provide a new scientific and effective tool/strategy for the causation mechanism analysis and risk management of haze pollution in China.