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Mind over matter

the environment is an important top-of-the-mind concern, particularly in urban India and China, says an international survey. A majority of the people in the world's most populous countries feel that existing laws are inadequate to protect the environment.

The 1998 International Environmental Monitor Survey conducted in 30 countries has shown that nearly two-thirds of the people in China, Japan, France, Italy and Spain, are not satisfied with existing environmental laws. A majority of people in 26 of the 30 countries advocate strong action in order to reduce human impacts on climate. Some 40 per cent of urban citizens in China and 27 per cent in India say that air and water pollution, ozone layer depletion and climate change are the major environmental problems.

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