Fireworks celebrations and air pollution: evidence from Chinese Lunar New Year

Fireworks are an integral part of celebrations in many cultures. However, their environmental consequences have raised concerns. Despite many studies addressing the issue, there is still a lack of strong causal inference. This study investigates the impact of firework displays during the Spring Festival holiday on air pollution levels, using data from 335 Chinese cities from 2015 to 2017. A regression discontinuity design is employed to isolate this causal effect. Results indicate that fireworks substantially deteriorate air quality. Specifically, fireworks increase the Air Quality Index by 57%, fine particulate matter (PM2.5) by 89%, inhalable particulate matter (PM10) by 44%, and sulfur dioxide (SO2) by 69%. These impacts remain robust across varying model specifications. Policy interventions such as firework bans have been demonstrated to successfully reduce pollution from this source. However, when formulating environmental policies, policymakers ought to consider cultural factors and strive for balance between environmental protection and preserving cultural traditions.