Fireworks ad stunt in Tibet highlights gaps in China's green efforts

Outdoor gear brand Arc'teryx and Chinese artist Cai Guoqiang are in hot water after they set off fireworks on a mountain in Tibet - the marketing stunt drew intense backlash over its potential long-term harm to the environment.

- Lim Min Zhang China Correspondent

Not only is the incident a public relations nightmare for the popular Chinese-owned Canadian brand that has marketed itself as being environmentally conscious, but it also appears to have been a violation of environmental protection laws. Official apologies came swiftly after the video of the dragon-shaped fireworks - designed by the artist behind the pyrotechnics at the 2008 Beijing Olympics opening ceremony - was posted online on Sept 19.

But questions have persisted over how approval was given for such an activity in an ecologically fragile environment more than 4,500m above sea level, even as the authorities have provided different explanations.

Tibet is a vast, sparsely inhabited autonomous region known for its significant natural resources, and is designated as a restricted development area under national planning guidelines, which means ecological protection must be prioritised over economic activities.

The Arc'teryx fiasco could point to a lack of competency at lower levels of government in evaluating the potential environmental impact of such activities, said analysts. Approval was reportedly given at the county level, which is below the municipal level.