VOA标准英语2008年-Report Says Significant Climate Change Ahead fo

By Michael Bowman
Washington
29 May 2008

A U.S. government scientific report concludes that future decades will see significant climate change in the United States, caused primarily by human activity. VOA's Michael Bowman reports from Washington.

The report, titled Scientific Assessment¹ of the Effects of Global Change on the United States, concludes that a warming of the earth will have a far-reaching impact on the United States. Not only will winters become milder and summers hotter, climate change will affect rainfall, water supply, hurricane activity, sea levels, agricultural production, energy production, biological diversity, and human health.

The report, written by President Bush's National Science and Technology Council, is being sent to the White House and Congress.

It paints a worrisome picture of more heat waves and wildfires, increased water shortages in regions that depend on mountain snowmelt, greater coastal² flooding and erosion, more-intense storms and hurricanes, the disruption and dislocation of ecosystems³, and increased risk of crop failures. It also predicts geographic⁴ shifts in human settlements, higher heat-related human mortality, and increased risk for some diseases.

The report notes that climate change is a complicated phenomenon, but concludes that there is "a strong human influence on climate." In particular, human activities that generate carbon dioxide, a so-called "greenhouse gas" is seen as a main culprit.

If embraced by President Bush, the report would constitute a shift in thinking by the administration on climate change. For years, President Bush has maintained that while there is strong evidence that climate change is occurring, the causes are not clear and warrant further study before implementing⁵ any far-reaching, costly⁶ initiatives to combat the phenomenon.

The report does not make any specific policy recommendations for combating climate change, but would seem to suggest that reducing the emission⁷ of greenhouse gasses would be beneficial. Even so, the report states that some climate change in the future is inevitable⁸ regardless of any steps taken, because a certain amount of warming will occur due to greenhouse gas emissions⁹ that have already occurred.

1 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？

2 coastal   

adj.海岸的，沿海的，沿岸的

参考例句：

• The ocean waves are slowly eating away the coastal rocks.大海的波浪慢慢地侵蚀着岸边的岩石。
• This country will fortify the coastal areas.该国将加强沿海地区的防御。

3 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

4 geographic   

adj.地理学的，地理的

参考例句：

• The city's success owes much to its geographic position. 这座城市的成功很大程度上归功于它的地理位置。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Environmental problems pay no heed to these geographic lines. 环境问题并不理会这些地理界限。 来自英汉非文学 - 环境法 - 环境法

5 implementing   

v.实现( implement的现在分词 )；执行；贯彻；使生效

参考例句：

• -- Implementing a comprehensive drug control strategy. ――实行综合治理的禁毒战略。 来自汉英非文学 - 白皮书
• He was in no hurry about implementing his unshakable principle. 他并不急于实行他那不可动摇的原则。 来自辞典例句

6 costly   

adj.昂贵的，价值高的，豪华的

参考例句：

• It must be very costly to keep up a house like this.维修这么一幢房子一定很昂贵。
• This dictionary is very useful,only it is a bit costly.这本词典很有用，左不过贵了些。

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 inevitable   

adj.不可避免的，必然发生的

参考例句：

• Mary was wearing her inevitable large hat.玛丽戴着她总是戴的那顶大帽子。
• The defeat had inevitable consequences for British policy.战败对英国政策不可避免地产生了影响。

9 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。