Leave the car at home and take a bus.

 

That's the message being pushed by environmental experts in a campaign to clear the air in China's cities.

 

Statistics form the Ministry of Construction shows the per capita energy consumption for a bus is 8.4 percent of that of a car per kilometer.

 

Metro, light rail, carpooling, cycling and walking are other recommended alternatives for commuting.

 

"Today is Children's Day," Huang Haoming, secretary- general of China Association for NGO Cooperation (CANGO) said on Friday at a national green commuting campaign to promote public transport use.

 

"I can think of no better gift for them than a clean globe and green lifestyle."

 

Initiated last year, the green commuting network has gathered momentum and public support. Co-organized by CANGO and US-based NGO Environmental Defense, the green incentive has largely been endorsed by over 20 cities across China after its debut last year in Beijing.

 

Environmental protection NGOs from Shanghai, Hong Kong, Nanning, Xiamen, Lahsa, Xi'an, Tianjin are part of the "Green Commuting Network".

 

Representatives from those cities have vowed try and change people's habits and attitudes towards the environment.

 

This may be as simple as recommending to those who regularly drive to work, to take a bus at least one day in the month.

 

Statistics from the State Environmental Protection Administration showed 80 million liters of gasoline nationwide would be saved every year if just 1 percent of drivers switched to public transport.

 

(China Daily via AP June 2, 2007)