A one-year carbon emission reduction program proposed by China's Ministry of Environmental Protection (MEP) was started on Wednesday, on World Earth Day, to encourage citizens nationwide to adjust their lifestyle and live a "low-carbon" lifestyle.

A low-carbon lifestyle covers many aspects of modern life, such as transportation, home heating, and holiday travel, which can be conducted in a way that gives the maximum reduction of personal carbon emissions.

Individual action is now recognized as one of the keys to tackling climate change -- the greatest challenge facing humanity, said China's MEP, which is responsible of launching the program in concert with the US Environmental Defense and some other organizations.

"We want to raise the nation's awareness of energy saving and emission reduction, through a 'carbon-audit' program," said Zeng Hongying, a MEP senior official.

Zeng said the program has chosen 11 cities, Tianjin, Shanghai, Xi'an, Yingchuan, Nanjing, Changzhou, Suzhou, Guangzhou, Xia'men, Shenyang and Chongqing, as the pilot city for the plan.

Of these 11 cities, 330 families will be selected to calculate their daily carbon emissions with a carbon calculator designed jointly by MEP and Nanjing University in Jiangsu Province.

Zeng added that they will also invite experts to give presentations in citizen communities on low-carbon lifestyles and the global climate change issues, and make exhibitions to publicize the benefits of a low-carbon lifestyle.

The ministry will also help some older communities in environmental reform projects such as greening and rainwater recycling.

After the program is completed this year, it will be promoted across the nation, the ministry said.

(Xinhua News Agency April 22, 2009)