The effects of environmental inspection on air quality: Evidence from China

To address ecological and environmental issues, central environmental inspection (CEI) coordinated by the Chinese Ministry of Ecology and Environment has been implemented since 2016. This paper aims to comprehensively evaluate how and how much CEI affects air quality. The results of the difference-i...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of cleaner production 2022-12, Vol.378, p.134496, Article 134496
Main Authors: Feng, Tong, Du, Huibin, Mi, Zhifu, Chen, Zhenni, Wang, Nan
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Air pollution
Difference-in-differences method
Environmental inspection
Normalized governance
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Summary:To address ecological and environmental issues, central environmental inspection (CEI) coordinated by the Chinese Ministry of Ecology and Environment has been implemented since 2016. This paper aims to comprehensively evaluate how and how much CEI affects air quality. The results of the difference-in-differences models show that CEI improved the air quality and reduced the concentrations of PM2.5, PM10, NO2, and SO2 by 8.8%, 8.1%, 7.9%, and 2.4%, respectively. Moreover, environmental effectiveness was strengthened over the course of four rounds of inspection. The mediating model results indicate that effectiveness was achieved through active public participation, administrative punishments from the central inspectors, and positive rectification actions from the local governments. The greatest improvement in air quality occurred during the on-site inspection period, after which the effects gradually weakened. A review inspection was carried out to supervise the rectification tasks. The adoption of review inspection made the effects on air quality improvement reappear, which verifies that CEI in China is not just a temporary campaign-style enforcement but a normalized and effective governance of air pollution. •Central environmental inspection dropped air pollutant concentrations significantly.•Environmental effectiveness was strengthened over the course of four rounds of inspection.•The largest improvement in air quality occurred during the on-site inspection period.•The effectiveness was achieved through mediating effects of public participation and negative political incentives.
ISSN:0959-6526
1879-1786
DOI:10.1016/j.jclepro.2022.134496