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China has been encouraging consumers to buy low-emission cars to promote the idea of an environmentally friendly society.

But the country's sales volume of high-emission cars such as sport-utility vehicles increased nearly 50 percent in the first half of this year.

Su Hui, general manager of Beijing's largest car trading market at Yayuncun, explains why.

"The country has not scheduled when it will start levying fuel taxes or raise the tax on use and consumption of high-emission cars. Also, compared with international fuel prices, the price of gas in China is relatively low."

China has become one of the world's leading SUV consumers. In the first four months of this year, the country imported more than 70,000 SUVs, double the figure from the same period of last year.

Zhao Ying, a professor at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said the country's car consumption structure is unsustainable.

"China is not rich in oil, but this year, its SUV consumption increased by a large margin. It doesn't match China's energy resource structure."

Zhao Ying suggested China learn from other countries' experiences and levy fuel taxes based on mileage to encourage citizens to buy low-emission cars.

(Page Editor: Cao Jie)