The publication of the first national environmental protection and livelihood index at the beginning of this year has made clear how far China still has to go to mobilize citizens to create an environmentally-friendly society.

In the 11th Five-Year Plan, starting this year, unprecedented importance has been attached to making economic growth more environmentally sustainable and energy efficient. If this is to be achieved, massive public participation is essential.

A "pass" score of 68.05 out of 100 on an environmental protection evaluation system scale does not satisfy anyone.

But the index accurately shows the public generally knows little about environmental protection. Chinese people are concerned about environmental causes, but tend not to be active in campaigning.

It is reasonable to attribute the high degree of recognition of a wide range of environmental matters to the country's strengthened efforts to arouse public awareness in recent years.

The government is trying out a "green GDP" system to rein in extensive economic growth at the cost of the environment.

But it is not right to interpret the index as proof that most people are all talk when it comes to environmental protection.

The fact the public tends not to participate in environmental protection does not necessarily entail a lack of interest or initiative.

On the contrary, it may be a result of a lack of policy incentives that would make them do so.

The close attention many citizens pay to everyday environmental matters such as air pollution and rubbish disposal, as well as environmental disasters such as pollution in major rivers, shows their growing awareness of and concern about environmental protection.

More and more people are willing to save water and electricity as shortages have frequently hit cities in the past few years.

Nevertheless, what stands between the public and environmentally-friendly consumption is various policies and regulations that have made it difficult to use clean energy and reduce pollution.

The discriminative ban in many cities on small-engine cars that consume less fuel and produce fewer emissions is one example. The country's electricity pricing policy has failed to adequately subsidize power generated by clean and alternative energy resources.

Whatever the reasoning, environmentally-friendly consumption and production should not be discouraged.

Fortunately the authorities have recognized and responded to these problems.

The government has ordered every city to quickly lift bans on energy-efficient, low-emission small cars.

Amid a slew of new efforts to adjust the country's energy structure to reduce pollution, related authorities are also drawing up detailed pricing policies to support wind or solar-based electricity generation.

When all policy obstacles are removed, it is a sure bet that Chinese people will embrace an environmentally-friendly lifestyle as enthusiastically as people in most other countries have done or will do.