VOA慢速英语2016 全球升温速度超出预期（在线收听）

AS IT IS 2016-07-29 UN: World Temperatures Rising Faster Than Predicted 全球升温速度超出预期

The United Nations’ World Meteorological Organization says the first half of this year has been the hottest in recorded history.

联合国世界气象组织表示今年上半年是有史以来最热的半年。

Scientists say that shows temperatures are rising faster than they expected.

科学家们说全球升温速度远超他们的预期。

The UN agency warned last week that if temperatures continue rising, 2016 will be the hottest year ever recorded.

气象组织上周警告称，若温度持续升高，2016年将成为有史以来最热的一年。

The agency reported that June was the 14th consecutive month of record high heat for land and oceans.It was also the 378th consecutive month with temperatures above the 20th century average.

该组织报告称，截止到6月，陆地和海洋温度已经连续14个月刷新历史最高纪录。连续378个月温度超过20世纪的平均值。

David Carlson is with the World Meteorological Organization’s climate research program.

David Carlson是世界气象组织气候研究小组的成员。

“What we’ve seen so far for the first six months of 2016 is really quite alarming.”

“目前为止观测到的2016年上半年的气温令人担忧。”

UN climate experts say the record heat this year suggests that the Earth can warm up faster than expected in a much shorter time.

联合国气候专家表示今年的高温纪录显示，在更短的时间内，地球升温的速度远超预期。

Carlson notes that the Earth’s Northern Hemisphere -- which includes Alaska, Canada and Russia -- has had unusually warm temperatures.

Carlson指出，北半球地区，如阿拉斯加州、加拿大和俄罗斯出现了异常高温。

“I think we’re very uncomfortable at how much this surprised us, which might be just a little more cautious way of saying ‘fearful about what happens next.’If we got this much surprise this year, how many more surprises are ahead of us?”

“对这样令人惊讶的结果我们都感到不安，这是‘担心接下来会发生什么’更谨慎的说法，如果今年我们就对这样的结果如此惊讶，未来还有多少令人吃惊的事等着我们。”

Scientists say carbon dioxide emissions -- which they believe are responsible for rising temperatures -- have also reached new highs.

科学家说他们所以为的全球升温的罪魁祸首——二氧化碳的排放量也达到新高。

Doug Parr is the chief scientist at the environmental group Greenpeace.

Doug Parr是环保组织——绿色和平组织的首席科学家。

“What the WMO (scientists) are showing is the temperature is going up alongside the increases in carbon dioxide.There’s really no doubt that these global warming gases are causing the kind of changes that we’re seeing in increased temperatures, threats to the Arctic and threats to the Greenland ice sheet and so on.So there’s really no time to waste in getting on and doing something about it.”

“世界气象组织的科学家们表示温度随着二氧化碳排放量的增加而升高。毫无疑问，这些温室气体造成了我们所看到的温度升高带来的变化，威胁到北极地区，威胁到格陵兰岛的冰层。所以没有时间可以浪费，我们要行动起来。”

Representatives of 200 governments will meet in November in Morocco to start enforcing the Paris Agreement.The agreement limits climate change to below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.The goal will not be easy to reach.

200个国家的代表将于11月在摩洛哥会面，开始施行巴黎协定。该协定规定把全球平均气温较工业化前水平升高控制在2摄氏度之内。这个目标不太容易达到。

Segolene Royal is the French Minister of Ecology, Sustainable Development and Energy.

Segolene Royal是法国生态、可持续发展及能源部的部长。

“We have this moral obligation between the Paris Agreement reached in December, the 22nd of April signing, and now the November meeting to ensure that at least 55 countries, representing 55 percent of world emissions of greenhouse gases, ratify the Paris agreement.”

“12月通过巴黎协定，4月22日签署，到11月会谈，我们有道义上的责任保证至少55个国家，温室气体排放量占全球55%的国家认可巴黎协定。”

Some scientists warn that even if that goal is reached in November, it may be too little too late.

一些科学家警告说，即便11月这一目标达成，仍旧是杯水车薪。

Words in This Story

meteorology – n. a science that deals with the atmosphere and with weather

consecutive – adj. following one after the other in a series : following each other without interruption

alarming – adj. causing (someone) to feel a sense of danger; causing worry or fright

uncomfortable – adj. causing a feeling of being embarrassed or uneasy

cautious – adj. careful about avoiding danger or risk

emission – n. the act of producing or sending out something (such as energy or gas) from a source

doubt – n. a feeling of being uncertain or unsure about something

ice sheet – n. a very large and thick area of ice that covers a region