According to the survey, 93.3 percent of the more than 4,000 respondents in Beijing were interested in environmental protection, 6.1 percentage points higher than those who choose new medical discoveries in second place.

Many said that they hoped science and technology could help solve environmental problems, and that priorities should be given to the development of science and technology serving environmental protection.

A total of 64.7 percent of the respondents said that science and technology played an active role in environmental protection.

According to the survey, Beijingers are seriously concerned about the environmental changes, such as mild winters for several consecutive years, high temperatures in summer and sandstorms in recent years.

The Beijing municipal government has intensified its efforts to tackle environmental problems and control air pollution since 1998.

As a result, the number of days with exellent or good air in Beijing accounted 50 percent each year.

The survey shows that 81.4 percent of the respondents knew the causes for sandstorms, and 77.1 percent showed concern over excessive tree felling, desertification and soil erosion.

A total of 68.4 percent showed serious concern about water shortages in Beijing and 90 percent supported research on accurate weather forecasting.

(Xinhua News Agency May 17, 2002)