美国气候报告表示气候灾害将进一步恶化

US Climate Report Says Weather Disasters Will Get Worse

A new U.S. government report says climate change is affecting the United States. It warns that the danger of destructive weather events -- from powerful storms to extremely dry weather and wildfires -- is worsening.

Some findings are in conflict with the statements and policies of President Donald Trump¹.

The report, called the Fourth National Climate Assessment², was released on November 23. It was written long before the deadly fires in California this month and before Hurricanes Florence and Michael struck the East Coast.

The report noted³ that new U.S. records for destructive weather have been set in recent years. Weather-related damage has cost nearly $400 billion since 2015, The Associated Press reported.

The climate assessment report

The climate assessment is required by law every few years. It was based on more than 1,000 earlier research studies. More than 300 researchers in 13 U.S. government offices and agencies prepared the report. It explains how the burning of coal, oil and natural gas is affecting different areas of the country and how this affects the U.S. economy, including energy and agriculture.

The report noted that temperatures in the Lower 48 states have risen 1 degree Celsius⁴ since the year 1900. By the end of the 21st century, the country will be 1.6 to 6.6 degrees higher, depending on how much pollution is released into the atmosphere. Studies have linked the temperature increase to carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases.

The climate assessment warned of longer and more powerful disasters resulting, at least in part, from rising temperatures. It said weather disasters are becoming more commonplace and warned that without aggressive action, they could become much worse.

The report avoids proposing policy changes. But it said that people must take steps to stop future weather disasters “to avoid substantial damages to the U.S. economy, environment, and human health and well-being⁵ over the coming decades.”

“Future risks from climate change depend primarily on decisions made today,” the report said.

Trump administration downplays report

The Trump administration is downplaying the importance of the findings. It says the report was largely based on “the most extreme scenario⁶” and fails to consider new technology and other actions that could reduce carbon emissions⁸ and the effects of climate change.

A White House spokeswoman noted that, since 2005, carbon dioxide emissions related to energy production in the United States have dropped 14 percent. Yet emissions worldwide continue to rise.

The Trump administration has eased enforcement of several environmental rules enacted⁹ during the presidency¹⁰ of Barack Obama. The administration also has a campaign for the production of fossil fuels like coal.

Last year, President Trump announced plans to withdraw the United States from the 2015 Paris Agreement. He said the agreement would hurt the U.S. economy and said there was little evidence it would improve the environment.

The measure, signed by nearly 200 countries, sets rules for fighting climate change.

I'm Alice Bryant.

Words in This Story

greenhouse – n. a glass-covered building used for the protection of plants; adj. – of or relating to rising temperatures on Earth’s surface

emission⁷ – n. something being released, usually into the air

primarily – adj. mainly

scenario – n. a series of possible actions or events

decade – n. a 10-year period

1 trump   

n.王牌，法宝；v.打出王牌，吹喇叭

参考例句：

• He was never able to trump up the courage to have a showdown.他始终鼓不起勇气摊牌。
• The coach saved his star player for a trump card.教练保留他的明星选手，作为他的王牌。

2 assessment   

n.评价；评估；对财产的估价，被估定的金额

参考例句：

• This is a very perceptive assessment of the situation.这是一个对该情况的极富洞察力的评价。
• What is your assessment of the situation?你对时局的看法如何？

3 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

4 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。

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 scenario   

n.剧本，脚本；概要

参考例句：

• But the birth scenario is not completely accurate.然而分娩脚本并非完全准确的。
• This is a totally different scenario.这是完全不同的剧本。

7 emission   

n.发出物，散发物；发出，散发

参考例句：

• Rigorous measures will be taken to reduce the total pollutant emission.采取严格有力措施，降低污染物排放总量。
• Finally,the way to effectively control particulate emission is pointed out.最后，指出有效降低颗粒排放的方向。

8 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。

9 enacted   

制定（法律），通过（法案）( enact的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• legislation enacted by parliament 由议会通过的法律
• Outside in the little lobby another scene was begin enacted. 外面的小休息室里又是另一番景象。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹

10 presidency   

n.总统(校长，总经理)的职位(任期)

参考例句：

• Roosevelt was elected four times to the presidency of the United States.罗斯福连续当选四届美国总统。
• Two candidates are emerging as contestants for the presidency.两位候选人最终成为总统职位竞争者。