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The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Ambient Air Quality in China: A Quasi-Difference-in-Difference Approach

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  • Tuo Zhang

    (Graduate School of Economics, Kyoto University, Yoshidahonmachi, Sakyo Ward, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan)

  • Maogang Tang

    (School of Business, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai 200237, China)

Abstract

The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has provided a distinct opportunity to explore the mechanisms by which human activities affect air quality and pollution emissions. We conduct a quasi-difference-in-differences (DID) analysis of the impacts of lockdown measures on air pollution during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in China. Our study covers 367 cities from the beginning of the lockdown on 23 January 2020 until April 22, two weeks after the lockdown in the epicenter was lifted. Static and dynamic analysis of the average treatment effects on the treated is conducted for the air quality index (AQI) and six criteria pollutants. The results indicate that, first, on average, the AQI decreased by about 7%. However, it was still over the threshold set by the World Health Organization. Second, we detect heterogeneous changes in the level of different pollutants, which suggests heterogeneous impacts of the lockdown on human activities: carbon monoxide (CO) had the biggest drop, about 30%, and nitrogen dioxide (NO 2 ) had the second-biggest drop, 20%. In contrast, ozone (O 3 ) increased by 3.74% due to the changes in the NO x /VOCs caused by the decrease in NO x , the decrease of O 3 titration, and particulate matter concentration. Third, air pollution levels rebounded immediately after the number of infections dropped, which indicates a swift recovery of human activities. This study provides insights into the implementation of environmental policies in China and other developing countries.

Suggested Citation

  • Tuo Zhang & Maogang Tang, 2021. "The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Ambient Air Quality in China: A Quasi-Difference-in-Difference Approach," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(7), pages 1-19, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:7:p:3404-:d:523993
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    4. Guojun He & Yuhang Pan & Takanao Tanaka, 2020. "The short-term impacts of COVID-19 lockdown on urban air pollution in China," Nature Sustainability, Nature, vol. 3(12), pages 1005-1011, December.
    5. Wang, Qingqing & Lu, Mei & Bai, Zimeng & Wang, Ke, 2020. "Coronavirus pandemic reduced China’s CO2 emissions in short-term, while stimulus packages may lead to emissions growth in medium- and long-term," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 278(C).
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    Cited by:

    1. Xin Xu & Shupei Huang & Feng An & Ze Wang, 2022. "Changes in Air Quality during the Period of COVID-19 in China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(23), pages 1-17, December.
    2. Lin, Weiran & He, Qiuqin & Xiao, Yuan & Yang, Jingwen, 2023. "Do city lockdowns effectively reduce air pollution?," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 197(C).
    3. Ana Catarina T. Silva & Pedro T. B. S. Branco & Sofia I. V. Sousa, 2022. "Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Air Quality: A Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(4), pages 1-19, February.
    4. Laijun Zhao & Yu Wang & Honghao Zhang & Ying Qian & Pingle Yang & Lixin Zhou, 2023. "Diverse spillover effects of COVID-19 control measures on air quality improvement: evidence from typical Chinese cities," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 25(7), pages 7075-7099, July.

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