The central government of Taiwan has urged the people of the county to stop burning incense sticks and ritual money in honour of the dead and opt instead for online worshipping to better protect the environment.

Moreover, the announcement was made just ahead of Tomb Sweeping Festival, when ethnic Chinese traditionally tour the graves of their ancestors to burn incense and paper offerings.

The practice not only affects the country’s air pollution but also causes fires, the cabinet-level Environmental Protection Administration warned.

According to the statement released, “We can now choose to pay homage to our ancestors in a modern and environmentally friendly way by worshipping online or donating the money meant for the offerings to charities.”

The country has vowed to lessen its greenhouse gases to 2008 levels by the next ten years.

Researches showed that burning paper money releases a large number of carbon dioxide, one of the main gases found responsible for global climate change.

Other substances, which cause air pollution when paper money is burned include benzene, methylbenzene and ethylbenzene - which can cause cancer and other diseases.