How Many Car Trips Is Chinese New Year Firecracker Use Equivalent To? A National PM2.5 Emission Perspective

Abstract

This study develops a transparent, stepwise estimation framework to quantify nationwide PM2.5 emissions from minimal firecracker use during the Chinese New Year. Under conservative assumptions we estimate approximately 1,014 tons of PM2.5 nationwide. This represents roughly 1–2% of China’s annual vehicular particulate emissions. The results illustrate if you set off firecrackers during the Chinese New Year, you would need to give up approximately 100–200 kilometers of car travel to compensate for the environmental “sin” you have committed. The results indicate that setting off firecrackers during the Chinese New Year is roughly equivalent to 100–200 kilometers of car travel, meaning that you would need to forgo that distance to compensate for the resulting environmental impact.