Survey: Environment gets lowest-ever grade

Nearly 80% of people surveyed by a government-linked non-profit organization gave the environment a grade of "extremely" or "fairly" bad in 2008, nearly 10% more than in 2007, the South China Morning Post reported. The results of the survey conducted by the China Environmental Cultural Promotion Association (CECPA) came despite unprecedented spending on environmental programs around the Beijing Olympics. More than half of respondents were not satisfied with the government’s ability to solve environmental problems. The CECPA survey also said the reputation of state-owned enterprises declined in 2008 due to the tainted milk scandal. CECPA is a non-profit organization funded by the Ministry of Environmental Protection.