Rather than call on government to curb pollution, they called for disclosure of emissions data.

ECONOMIST: www.democracy.com

The BBC's Jon Sudworth in Beijing says there has been much debate over whether the use of fireworks should be reduced, in part to help curb pollution.

BBC: China fireworks truck blast causes deadly road collapse

The right response to that, though, would be to curb pollution and try to alter the pattern of growth to make it less resource-intensive, rather than to control population directly.

ECONOMIST: Lower fertility is changing the world for the better

There's also the lingering question of how much the U.S. can do to solve the problem alone, without other countries taking aggressive steps to curb their own pollution.

NPR: PROMISES, PROMISES: Climate Change

From Mexico to the Philippines, they are now trying to curb the worst of the air and water pollution that typically accompanies industrialisation.

ECONOMIST: Local difficulties

In both countries water and sewerage systems need to be vastly expanded, and governments in both countries are also coming under intense public pressure to curb what are often appalling levels of local pollution from factories and power plants.

ECONOMIST: The greening of General Electric

While fireworks are a major part of the festivities surrounding the Lunar New Year, which marks the beginning of the Year of the Snake, authorities in Beijing are asking the public to curb firework celebrations so as not to add to the city's worsening air pollution, Xinhua reported Tuesday.

NPR: Leaner New Year: China Tones Down The Celebrations