BEIJING, June 5 --More than 40 per cent of motorists have told pollsters from Beijing Municipal Centre for Environmental Awareness Promotion that they will not get behind the wheel today, United Nations World Environment Day.

    Although 40 per cent is an obvious minority, we still feel inspired to see a growing public awareness of the impact of individual conduct on the environment.

    We hope that the findings of this survey, a random sampling of motorists at parking lots in the city's urban districts, are truly representative.

    If each motorist keeps their promise, we may see a difference today both on the roads and in the sky above. Let us hope they do.

    We salute all those who chose not to drive today. They made and kept a promise that will prove fundamental in our battle to protect the environment.

    The United Nations Environment Programme defines World Environment Day as a people's event. It has to be.

    We are used to blaming poorly conceived government policies, irresponsible local officials and lawless businesspeople for environmental damage. While the apportioning of such blame is fair and justified in many cases, we usually neglect the simple truth that we, as individual citizens, can contribute more than just hot air.

    We should all consult our conscience and ask ourselves if our way of life has something to do with these problems.

    Desertification is the theme of this year's World Environment Day. For most of us who live some distance away from deserts, the topic may sound less than relevant except when sand storms blur our skies with choking dust. But that is not true.

    For example, the way in which many of us waste water may have a direct impact on the draining of groundwater essential to keeping plants on the surface soil alive. Our appetite for the exotic, including some herbal products unique to the Gobi Desert, such as liquorice root and black moss, has led to a serious loss of vegetation in Gansu Province and the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region.

    Unless we refrain from such demands, the power of the market will continue to exert its very negative influence on our collective habitat.

    More than half of those committed to not driving today said they would use public transport, walk or cycle to and from the office, or consider carpooling.

    Those are very constructive alternatives that many can take.

    But you do not have to own a car to do your bit. Turn off the tap when you brush your teeth. Use a reusable bag instead of the plastic ones on offer in stores when you go shopping. Use rechargeable batteries rather than the disposable ones.

    There is plenty to do to make a difference, and most of it will cause us very little inconvenience.

    A joint proposal by the local media, environmental organizations, and auto clubs resulted in more than 200,000 Beijing motorists pledging that they would not get behind the wheel today.

    The difference should be bigger if the proposal to avoid driving one day each month gets a positive response from even more people.