Affordability is a critical issue in implementing non-polluting measures. This is not only with respect to clean energy cars. Affordability is a critical constraint in encouraging people to switch to cleaner household fuels.

The pervasive use of coal for meeting direct energy needs in household consumption, including staying warm during harsh winters in North China, has contributed substantially to high deposit of suspended particulate matter, nitrogen and sulphur dioxides in the air. Switching to less-polluting household fuels is difficult given their higher costs.

The Third Plenary Session of the 18th CPC Central Committee and the Central Economic Conference have emphasized the adoption of measures to strengthen environmental protection and announced penalties for pollution-encouraging industrial practices. Both would require provincial and local governments to work closely with households, farmers and businesses. For ecological conservation, for example, it is important to encourage shifts from farming practices that are water-intensive. Such practices - including intensive use of mechanized pumps - lead to a drop in the underground water table and cause drinking water scarcity. The practice can change only by conscious adoption of alternative techniques.

There is also a proposal to levy higher taxes on energy intensive and polluting industries and also for adopting users-pay resources system, increasing the cost of non-environment friendly operations. The measures are important and can help tackle pollution. However, it is important to design them effectively to achieve the best results. It is important to ensure that polluting industries are not able to pass on the tax to their consumers by charging higher prices for their final products and services.

Pollution in China has reached levels where it can cause a serious health crisis. Fighting pollution requires the collective efforts of all sections of society. The government's efforts will not be successful unless people across the social divide respond by taking note of the challenge.

The author is head of partnership & program and senior research fellow at the Institute of South Asian Studies in the National University of Singapore.

(China Daily 12/19/2013 page9)