A team of scientists is urging that agriculture be a top priority in climate change negotiations, saying it’s vital for global food security and for reducing carbon emissions. The recommendations appear in the January 20th issue of Science magazine.
一些科学家指出，农业应该是国际气候变化谈判的重中之重。这些学者认为，农业对于确保全球粮食安全和温室气体减排努力至关重要。1月20日出版的《科学》杂志刊登了这些学者的具体建议。
The international team was led by Sir John Beddington, Britain’s chief scientific advisor. The article, What Next for Agriculture After Durban, follows the latest U.N. climate conference in December. It says negotiations there made “incremental progress” in helping farmers adapt to climate change while reducing agriculture’s contribution to global warming.
由英国首席科学顾问约翰?贝廷顿爵士率领的科学家团队在最新一期《科学》杂志上发表了题为“德班之后农业何去何从”的文章，探讨去年12月联合国气候变化大会之后的农业政策。该文指出，最近一轮谈判在帮助农民适应气候变化的同时在减少农业温室气体排放方面取得了“阶段性”进展。
“Well, agriculture is important, period, because of the imperative of food security. And we’re falling short there in significant ways that have come to our attention, especially recently with the significant price shocks,” said Professor Molly Jahn of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, co-author of the Science article.
这篇文章的共同撰稿人之一、美国威斯康星大学麦迪逊分校的教授默莉?贾恩说：“简而言之，农业至关重要，因为农业关乎粮食安全。而我们在这方面距离目标差距很大，这值得关注，尤其是最近的粮食价格上涨。”
International prices have remained high since the food crisis of 2007/2008.
自从2007年和2008年间全球粮食危机爆发以来，国际粮价居高不下。
Agriculture is a major emitter of greenhouse gases. But Jahn said it also offers opportunities to lessen their effects with known and proven farming practices.
贾恩说，农业部门是主要的温室气体来源。但与此同时，这也为使用行之有效的农业运作规范减少温室气体排放提供了机遇。
“So it represents both an activity that’s essential for our survival -- an activity that is threatened by climate change, especially in vulnerable parts of the world. And an opportunity to better manage meeting our needs while we reduce the emissions of various greenhouse gases that are accumulating in the atmosphere,” she said.
她说：“所以，就农业而言，农业活动和人类的生存息息相关，因为农业一方面受到全球气候变化的威胁，尤其是在较为脆弱的地区；但另一方面，我们现在又有机会通过减少大气中各种温室气体的排放来更好地满足粮食需求。”
Faster response needed
The Science magazine article says the “integration of agriculture in the climate change negotiating process has moved at a slow pace.” However, it says at the same time climate change, forces affecting food security, and population growth have been moving “much faster.”
《科学》杂志的文章指出，“将农业纳入气候变化谈判的过程进展缓慢”。但文章认为，与此同时，气候变化、影响粮食安全的各种因素、以及全球人口增长则在以更快的速度发生。
The scientists hope to influence policymakers.
贾恩教授说，科学家们希望决策者可以听取他们的意见。
Jahn said, “It was important for this team to get together precisely because so much work has been done. There’s so much information about opportunities and options, as well as threats. So this body was convened to carefully, objectively review that vast amount of information and synthesize clear policy relevant recommendations.”
她说：“重要的一点是，我们的科学家团队必须齐心协力，因为这些领域的研究已经取得了很多成就。有关气候变化的威胁、机遇以及选择的信息很多。所以我们的团队试图谨慎地、客观地审视已有的信息，然后提炼出清晰的政策建议。”
Those recommendations include putting agriculture front and center in policy considerations.
这些建议包括将农业提升到对抗气候变化决策的首要位置。
“While we are transitioning to climate-smart agriculture, we need to assure that the world’s most vulnerable people will be considered in any policy strategies,” she said.
贾恩教授说：“在我们向有利于减排的农业过渡的同时，必须确保任何决策都把全球最容易受到气候变化影响的人群包括在内。”
Another recommendation is to reduce the vast amount of food that’s lost, wasted or spoiled along the food chain – and to choose crops that place less stress on the environment.
贾恩教授说，另一项建议是减少食品供应链中数量惊人的粮食损失、浪费和腐烂变质，同时选择有利于环境保护的作物。
“Given current knowledge, there’s a great deal we can do within current budgets and within current economic structures that will bring us forward to a better place with respect to agricultural practices in the developing and the developed world,” said Jahn.
贾恩说：“基于我们现在掌握的知识，我们在现有预算和现有经济结构的基础上仍然大有可为，在发展中国家和发达国家中推进农业运作规范。”
Playing a bigger role
The magazine article calls on scientists to “assume a more prominent role” by ensuring clear data is available for climate change negotiations. It says that data can help spur investment in agriculture.
《科学》杂志的文章呼吁科学家们确保气候谈判获得清楚的数据支持，从而在全球减排努力中扮演更为显著的角色。文章说，数据可以帮助增加农业投资。
Professor Jahn warns “the window of opportunity to avert a humanitarian, environmental and climate crisis is rapidly closing.” She adds urgent action is needed.
贾恩教授警告说，避免人道、环境和气候危机的机遇稍纵即逝。她认为，对抗气候变化必须采取紧急行动。
Agriculture’s role in climate change is expected to be discussed in June at Rio+20. The meeting in Brazil marks the 20th anniversary of the U.N. Conference on Environment and Development in Rio de Janeiro. It’s commonly known as The Earth Summit.
在今年6月的里约+20峰会上，预计农业在气候变化中角色问题将被重点讨论。这次在巴西召开的国际峰会正值1992年联合国环境和发展大会20周年之际。此次会议通常被称为“地球峰会”。 |