VOA标准英语2012--As the World Economy Goes, So Do Emissions

As the World Economy Goes, So Do Emissions¹

 

There’s a correlation² between the global economy and global greenhouse gas emissions. Evidence of the link was found in the 2009 economic crisis.

There isn’t much good that can be said about the so-called great recession – not when millions of people lost their jobs. But a new report says there was some good news, albeit³ fleeting⁴.

Down and back up

The Worldwatch Institute says when the global economy crashed, emissions of carbon dioxide declined.

“We looked at greenhouse gas emissions over the past years, and what we found was that in 2009, as economies around the world were affected⁵ by the credit crunch⁶, global greenhouse gas emissions started to decline following the slowing down of our global economic output. So, as our economies produce less, we also emitted less CO2. And in 2009, for the first time in nearly 20 years, emissions declined by 1.5 percent,” said Xing Fu-Bertaux, research associate at the institute’s Climate and Energy Program.

Even the U.S. – a big greenhouse gas emitter – saw a decline.

“In the U.S., since the recession affected primarily the construction sector⁷, which is a big producer of greenhouse gas emissions because it uses lots of iron, steel and cement -- and in Europe because heavy industries produced less – it actually saved us some emissions,” she said.

Fu-Bertaux said similar declines can be found during the recession in the early 1980s. However, she said the decline recorded in 2009 did not last very long. In fact, emissions came back with renewed vigor⁸.

“We also see that now that our economy’s starting to recover, global carbon dioxide emissions increased in 2010 by 5.8 percent, which is the biggest bump in the past two decades,” said Fu-Bertaux.

Striking a balance

So, can there be a happy medium between a strong global economy and reduced greenhouse gas emissions? Fu-Bertaux said, yes, and gives Germany as an example.

“Germany has shown that it was actually possible. One of Europe’s most flourishing economies is seeing its emissions reduced, and not just because of the emissions reduction in East Germany, which was the result of their economic collapse⁹. But since reunification, Germany’s emissions actually continued to decline. And this was mainly due to renewable energy – mainly solar, PV and wind – as well as energy efficiency measures,” she said.

PV stands for photovoltaic research that focuses on making renewable energy systems – such as solar power – more efficient and cheaper.

The Worldwatch Institute researcher said both developed and developing nations need long term policies and support for alternative energy sources – measures that Fu-Bertaux said would encourage private investment and innovation in renewable energy.

1 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。

2 correlation   

n.相互关系，相关，关连

参考例句：

• The second group of measurements had a high correlation with the first.第二组测量数据与第一组高度相关。
• A high correlation exists in America between education and economic position.教育和经济地位在美国有极密切的关系。

3 albeit   

conj.即使；纵使；虽然

参考例句：

• Albeit fictional,she seemed to have resolved the problem.虽然是虚构的，但是在她看来好象是解决了问题。
• Albeit he has failed twice,he is not discouraged.虽然失败了两次，但他并没有气馁。

4 fleeting   

adj.短暂的，飞逝的

参考例句：

• The girls caught only a fleeting glimpse of the driver.女孩们只匆匆瞥了一眼司机。
• Knowing the life fleeting,she set herself to enjoy if as best as she could.她知道这种日子转瞬即逝，于是让自已尽情地享受。

5 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。

6 crunch   

n.关键时刻；艰难局面；v.发出碎裂声

参考例句：

• If it comes to the crunch they'll support us.关键时刻他们是会支持我们的。
• People who crunch nuts at the movies can be very annoying.看电影时嘎吱作声地嚼干果的人会使人十分讨厌。

7 sector   

n.部门，部分；防御地段，防区；扇形

参考例句：

• The export sector will aid the economic recovery. 出口产业将促进经济复苏。
• The enemy have attacked the British sector.敌人已进攻英国防区。

8 vigor   

n.活力，精力，元气

参考例句：

• The choir sang the words out with great vigor.合唱团以极大的热情唱出了歌词。
• She didn't want to be reminded of her beauty or her former vigor.现在，她不愿人们提起她昔日的美丽和以前的精力充沛。

9 collapse   

vi.累倒；昏倒；倒塌；塌陷

参考例句：

• The country's economy is on the verge of collapse.国家的经济已到了崩溃的边缘。
• The engineer made a complete diagnosis of the bridge's collapse.工程师对桥的倒塌做了一次彻底的调查分析。