China should consume more natural gas to control air pollution: expert

China should increase the proportion of natural gas in an energy mix currently dominated by coal to cut air pollution, an expert said Sunday.

Compared with coal, the burning of natural gas emits 20 percent less of carbon dioxide and 99 percent of smoke dust, which can substantially improve efficiency and reduce waste, Zheng Xinli, macro economist and president of China Association of Policy Science, told a seminar held in Sanya of southernmost Hainan Province.

China's coal-burning plants are considered one of the major causes of smog across northern regions this winter.

Around two thirds of the country's energy comes from coal, while natural gas consumption only accounts for less than six percent.

Coal's dominance curbs the consumption of natural gas, Zheng said.

China has measures in place to reverse the situation by promoting clean energy, including natural gas, and limiting the expansion of coal industry.

Coal consumption will be brought down to 62 percent of the energy mix by 2020, according to a government plan. Endi