An environmentally friendly keyboard and mouse made of bamboo instead of plastic are on display at an exhibition in Beijing. [China Daily]

While the capital's per-capita GDP falls short of world city levels, Beijing has the potential to become a global leader in the "low-carbon" concept, experts said.

"We may have a three- to four-decade gap in traditional industries to catch up with world-level cities, but we can compete at the same starting line in developing a low-carbon economy," said He Qiang, a member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference. He is also a professor at the Central University of Finance and Economics.

He made the comments during the 2010 China International Low-Carbon Technology Summit in Dali, Yunnan province.

He said Beijing has taken up his suggestion that the city create a "low-carbon" center.

The complex of commercial space in Fengtai district will be retrofitted to follow green standards.

"It will come into operation this year and play a demonstrative role nationwide," He said.

He added the capital should invest more in conservation-related industries such as the manufacture of battery-operated cars. It should also promote energy efficiency, he said.

"But to be honest, the main hurdles for such industries are immature technology, high investment costs and low profits," said He.

He added that 80 percent of developed countries' scientific achievements could turn into commercial products, whereas only 5 percent of China's innovations would yield such payoffs.

"If the government releases preferential policies and invests more in helping new environmentally friendly industries, we might bring a technology revolution in the future," he said.

Jiang Xiaoyu, vice-chairman of the Beijing Olympic City Development Association and former vice-mayor of Beijing, joined He in urging Beijing to be more proactive in building a low-carbon city.

"The capital has had the intention to establish a 'Green Beijing' since the Beijing Olympic Games," Jiang said. "Residents should change their traditional conceptions and save energy in every aspect of daily life."

Some experts at the forum said energy consumption and pollution were the major obstacles for a low-carbon city.

Official figures showed the city has almost 4.2 million vehicles on its roads.

"Besides suffering through exhaust emissions, residents of large cities face traffic jams," said Hu Gang, a spokesman for the leading electric vehicle maker Xinri, a supplier to the Shanghai World Expo. "They can get more convenience and enjoy environmentally friendly lives by riding electric bicycles."

Hu said the electric vehicle population in the capital has reached more than 1 million.

"A light electrical vehicle's energy consumption accounts for one-sixth of a motorbike and one-twelfth of a mini car, so such vehicles can be called almost 'zero emission'," said Hu.

A total of 500 no-pollution electric cabs and 1,055 electric sanitation trucks will be put into use later this year, according to Mirror Evening News.

(China Daily April 7, 2010)