A Chinese political advisor on Saturday suggested the government start levying environmental tax, saying conditions for the legislation have "basically ripe".

"The authorities should lose no time to put it on their agenda," said Jia Kang, member of the 11th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), the top advisory body of the country.

China now faces a grave situation in environmental protection, and Premier Wen Jiabao, in his government work report delivered at the national legislature's annual session on Wednesday, called for redoubled efforts to save energy, reduce pollutant emissions and protect the environment.

Taxation is one of the effective means for the government's endeavor for macroeconomic regulation, and to address issues related to environmental pollution. "It is improper to rely on legal and administrative interference alone. Instead, we should give play to the role of market-based economic lever such as the levy of tax or other fees," said Jia.

The CPPCC member, who is also director of the Research Institute for Fiscal Science under the Ministry of Finance, proposed the environmental tax be designed as an "independent tax" levied on discharge of pollutants including waste water, waste gas and solid waste, together with carbon dioxide emission.

Jia also cited the successful experiences of other countries in levying the environmental tax and the Chinese people's growing awareness of environmental protection as major factors that contribute to lay a foundation for the new tax.

(Xinhua News Agency March 8, 2008)