The more gas a motor vehicle consumes, the more exhaust fumes it will discharge, so the more taxes the user should pay. This principle reflects the spirit of emission control and environmental protection that is at the heart of the draft law on the levies on the use of motor vehicles the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC) discussed on Monday.

Under the old regulations the same levy was charged for all motor vehicles regardless of engine size. Now, when an increasing number of well-off people prefer to drive big cars, and some even drive powerful sports utility vehicles, the proposed new law is significant as it brings home the message that vehicles consuming more energy not only waste non-renewable resources, but also cause more air pollution by discharging more exhaustion emissions.

The new draft law stipulates that the charges for motor vehicles with an engine size over 2.5 liters will be raised much higher than the current level.

At present only 3 percent of car owners have vehicles with such large engines. However, the number is rapidly increasing. The heavier levies send a message that the country is starting to place more emphasis on the saving of energy and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.

In the early 1990s, when only a very few Chinese families had motor vehicles, there was a rule that cars with small engines were not allowed to run on Chang'an Avenue as they looked humble and were regarded as a loss of face for the city and the country.

Now, when more than 50 percent of families have their own motor vehicles, traffic jams and air pollution have become a challenge for many cities. It is of utmost importance for policymakers and residents to change their mindset about the use of motor vehicles.

Quite a number of people consider luxury motor vehicles a token of social status. The more powerful their cars, the more proud they feel, as they believe that other people will judge them of higher social status. It is common for some people to care more about how people see them than about the impact of what they are doing to the environment.

The law deliberated at the NPC session should be just the first step. Other economic policies are also needed to make oil-guzzling consumers and polluters pay the price for their actions. This is one of the ways to instill in people's minds an awareness of energy saving and environmental protection.