科学家警告称不久的将来会有灾难性的全球变暖

Scientists Warn of Disastrous¹ Global Warming in Near Future

The United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is warning that the world is heating faster than predicted. The group says a major slowing of warming is critical to avoid disaster. If not, the researchers say, the threat to people, ecosystems² and sustainable development will rise to irreversible levels.

The IPCC released the Special Report on Global Warming of 1.5oC Monday. It says it shows that global warming already has topped one degree Celsius³ since pre-industrial times.

Chinese scientist Panmao Zhai is a leader of the research. He says, “One of the key messages that comes out very strongly from this report is that we are already seeing the consequences of one degree Celsius of global warming through more extreme weather, rising sea levels and diminishing Arctic sea ice, among other changes.”

The scientists report that the level of warming will reach 1.5 degrees during the next thirty or so years at the current rate of greenhouse gas releases. Greenhouse gas includes waste gas like carbon dioxide from burning fossil fuels. Greenhouse gases trap heat in the atmosphere causing higher temperatures on Earth.

The report says the world needs to reach zero net emissions⁴ of carbon dioxide by 2050 to prevent a further rise in temperature.

It warns a further increase to two degrees Celsius would greatly increase the number of natural disasters. It would speed the melting of the Arctic sea ice, causing islands to disappear under rising seas. And the report says, it would become impossible to produce enough food to feed the world’s growing population.

Petteri Taalas is Secretary-General of the World Meteorological Organization. He says there is still time for people to change their behavior to stop an increase in greenhouse gas releases. He says preventing the world temperature from rising by one-half degree Celsius would make a huge difference in the well-being⁵ of the planet.

"One of the major issues is that there would be 420 million people less suffering because of climate change if we would be able to limit the warming to 1.5-degree level. And, we have certain areas in the world, which are extremely sensitive. Small island states, Mediterranean⁶ region and also Sub-Saharan Africa, which are already suffering and will suffer the most in the future.”

Taalas suggests several actions governments and individuals can take to lower the world’s temperature. One is to end the use of fossil fuels.

He says clean energy power from the sun, water, wind, and other renewable resources are available to meet humanity’s needs. He says public and private transportation should use electric power.

Tallas told VOA that people can help save the planet by changing the way they live. He says this should include changes in how and what we eat.

“For example, the fact that we eat so much meat means that we are using a fairly large fraction of our agriculture land for the cattle instead of for using vegetarian⁷ food that would be more carbon friendly.”

Taalas says governments have about 30 years to stop using fossil fuels and limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius. He says this is a major task. But he says it is not impossible.

I'm Caty Weaver⁸.

Words in This Story

irreversible – adj. impossible to change back to a previous condition or state

consequences – n. something that happens as a result of a particular action or set of conditions

diminish – v. to become or to cause (something) to become less in size, importance, etc.

region – n. a part of a country, of the world, etc., that is different or separate from other parts in some way

fraction – n. a part or amount of something

cattle – n. cows, bulls, or steers⁹ that are kept on a farm or ranch¹⁰ for meat or milk

vegetarian – adj. non-meat eating

1 disastrous   

adj.灾难性的，造成灾害的；极坏的，很糟的

参考例句：

• The heavy rainstorm caused a disastrous flood.暴雨成灾。
• Her investment had disastrous consequences.She lost everything she owned.她的投资结果很惨，血本无归。

2 ecosystems   

n.生态系统( ecosystem的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• There are highly sensitive and delicately balanced ecosystems in the forest. 森林里有高度敏感、灵敏平衡的各种生态系统。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Madagascar's ecosystems range from rainforest to semi-desert. 马达加斯加生态系统类型多样，从雨林到半荒漠等不一而足。 来自辞典例句

3 Celsius   

adj.摄氏温度计的，摄氏的

参考例句：

• The temperature tonight will fall to seven degrees Celsius.今晚气温将下降到七摄氏度。
• The maximum temperature in July may be 36 degrees Celsius.七月份最高温度可能达到36摄氏度。

4 emissions   

排放物( emission的名词复数 )； 散发物（尤指气体）

参考例句：

• Most scientists accept that climate change is linked to carbon emissions. 大多数科学家都相信气候变化与排放的含碳气体有关。
• Dangerous emissions radiate from plutonium. 危险的辐射物从钚放散出来。

5 well-being   

n.安康，安乐，幸福

参考例句：

• He always has the well-being of the masses at heart.他总是把群众的疾苦挂在心上。
• My concern for their well-being was misunderstood as interference.我关心他们的幸福，却被误解为多管闲事。

6 Mediterranean   

adj.地中海的；地中海沿岸的

参考例句：

• The houses are Mediterranean in character.这些房子都属地中海风格。
• Gibraltar is the key to the Mediterranean.直布罗陀是地中海的要冲。

7 vegetarian   

n.素食者；adj.素食的

参考例句：

• She got used gradually to the vegetarian diet.她逐渐习惯吃素食。
• I didn't realize you were a vegetarian.我不知道你是个素食者。

8 weaver   

n.织布工；编织者

参考例句：

• She was a fast weaver and the cloth was very good.她织布织得很快，而且布的质量很好。
• The eager weaver did not notice my confusion.热心的纺织工人没有注意到我的狼狈相。

9 steers   

n.阉公牛，肉用公牛( steer的名词复数 )v.驾驶( steer的第三人称单数 )；操纵；控制；引导

参考例句：

• This car steers easily. 这部车子易于驾驶。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Good fodder fleshed the steers up. 优质饲料使菜牛长肉。 来自辞典例句

10 ranch   

n.大牧场，大农场

参考例句：

• He went to work on a ranch.他去一个大农场干活。
• The ranch is in the middle of a large plateau.该牧场位于一个辽阔高原的中部。