Published on December 22, 2025 – Updated on December 22, 2025

Our researchers, Sébastien Marchand and Damien Cubizol, just published with Elda Nasho Ah-Pine and Huanxiu Guo a new article in Environment and Development Economics titled "Mass media as an environmental watchdog? Evidence from the war on air pollution in China".

Air pollution is a challenge, mainly in developing countries, that requires efforts from governments and, more broadly, from society as a whole. This study explores the role that mass media play in the fight against air pollution in China. They have become “informal regulators” of the environment by contributing to change through the emotions they conveyed.

The authors show that negative emotional tone used in environmental news is associated with lower levels of pollution in towns. They identify three mechanisms of media influence: public awareness, pressure on the governments and businesses, which incite the former to take environmental measures, and the latter to reduce their air emissions.

Our researchers also show that the role of media is largely beyond simple information broadcasting. They influence public decision-making and contribute to the evolution of social norms, even in contexts where press freedom is limited. This study offers new perspectives on the role of media in environmental governance in developing countries.

Visit Damien Cubizol and Sébastien Marchand webpages. 

More information on the research project