BEIJING - In response to the government's call to build a greener economy, China's transport authorities have taken a slew of measures to promote energy saving and emission reductions in the sector.

Under the sector's funding policy unveiled earlier this year, 122 emission-cutting projects in the industry have received financial support totalling 250 million yuan ($39.3 million). Encouraged by the special funds, another 8.06 billion yuan in investment went to the projects, according to He Jianzhong, spokesman for the Ministry of Transport (MOT).

The projects were estimated to be able to save 315,000 metric tons of coal equivalent, replace 224,000 metric tons of fuel oil and reduce carbon dioxide emission by 1.14 million metric tons, He said.

Meanwhile, the MOT has launched nationwide programs to promote low-carbon traffic. It has carried out 80 pilot projects on emission control and designated 10 cities as pilot areas to study and promote green transport system, including Tianjin, Shenzhen, Xiamen, Guiyang, Baoding and Wuhan.

He said the ministry will continue to intensify efforts to regulate emissions in the sector to meet the industry's control target during the 12th Five-Year Plan period (2011-2015).

In efforts to build a more environmental-friendly society, the government pledged that it will reduce the intensity of carbon dioxide emissions per unit of economic output in 2020 by 40 to 45 percent compared with the level of 2005.