VOA科学技术2023 世界现有稀土资源足够推动能源绿色转型（在线收听）

A recent study says there are enough rare earth metals on Earth for new "low-carbon electricity generation" technologies.

最近的一项研究表明，地球上有足够的稀土金属用来开发新的“低碳发电”技术。

Rare earth metals come from minerals found in countries around the world.

稀土金属发现于世界各国的矿物。

The researchers said more mining is needed to make more of the valuable metals available to industry.

研究人员表示，需要开采更多的矿产以为工业提供更多有价值的金属。

Rare earth metals are in demand for products such as magnets, wind turbines, solar panels and computers.

磁铁、风力涡轮机、太阳能电池板和计算机等产品对稀土金属的需求很大。

All are part of the "green energy" push to remove carbon gases from electricity generation.

所有这些产品都是“绿色能源”行动的一部分，目的是消除发电产生的碳气体。

The researchers said the amount of minerals available is enough to supply a switch to renewable energy.

研究人员表示，可获得的矿物质数量能够满足转向可再生能源所需的供应量。

They wrote that the carbon gasses "related to electricity infrastructure may be substantial."

他们写道，“与电力基础设施相关的碳气体排放量可能很大”。

But the study said it would be between one and nine percent of the world's budget for carbon gas production.

但该研究称，这将占全球碳预算的1%至9%。

The study came out recently in the science publication Joule.

这项研究最近发表在科学出版物《焦耳》上。

Zeke Hausfather helped write the study.

齐克·霍斯法瑟帮助撰写了这份研究报告。

He is an expert who works at a technology company called Stripe and at Berkeley Earth, a non-profit climate research group.

他是一名专家，供职于一家名为Stripe的科技公司和非营利性气候研究组织伯克利地球。

He called the process "big and messy."

他称这一过程“庞大而混乱”。

But he thinks reducing carbon gases, or "decarbonization," can be done.

但他认为，减少碳气体，即“脱碳”，是可以实现的。

He said he is not worried about the long-term supply of rare earth materials.

他说，他并不担心稀土材料的长期供应。

However, the scientists warn that in the early days of the switch to green energy, there will be shortages.

然而，科学家们警告称，在转向绿色能源的初期，稀土材料将会出现短缺。

For example, there could be a shortage of the element called dysprosium.

例如，可能会缺少一种名为镝的元素。

It is used to make strong magnets.

它被用来制造强力磁铁。

Industry will require three times more of the metal than is produced now.

工业将需要比目前产量多三倍的金属。

However, there is 12 times more dysprosium available than needed, the researchers said.

然而，研究人员表示，可获得的镝元素是所需量的12倍。

Another element is tellurium, which is used in large groups of solar panels, called solar farms.

另一种元素是碲，它被用于大量的太阳能电池板，即太阳能发电厂。

There is just enough of that material available if the world makes a fast push to solar power, the researchers said.

研究人员表示，如果世界迅速推动太阳能发电厂的发展，这种材料的供应量刚好足够。

In addition, there are other materials that can be used instead of tellurium if needed.

此外，如果需要的话，还有其他材料可以用来代替碲。

Daniel Ibarra is an environment professor at Brown University.

丹尼尔·伊巴拉是布朗大学的环境学教授。

He did not take part in the study but knows about lithium shortages.

他没有参与这项研究，但他知道锂短缺的问题。

He told the Associated Press that the study was "robust" and "debunks" concerns about running out of rare earth materials.

他告诉美联社，这项研究是“强有力的”，并“揭穿”了人们对稀土材料耗尽的担忧。

He said the main question is if production of the materials can keep up with demand.

他说，主要问题是这些材料的产量是否能跟上需求。

The United States Geological Survey reports that the countries with the largest supplies of rare earth metals are China, Vietnam, Russia and Myanmar, also known as Burma.

美国地质调查局报告称，稀土金属供应量最大的国家是中国、越南、俄罗斯和缅甸。

The study also noted that mining causes pollution.

该研究还指出，采矿会造成污染。

But the scientists said that if the world switches to green energy, the mining will not be a problem.

但科学家们表示，如果世界转向绿色能源，采矿就不是问题。

Rob Jackson is an energy expert and studies how humans affect the earth, but was not involved in the study.

罗布·杰克逊是一名能源专家，研究人类如何影响地球，但没有参与这项研究。

He is a professor at Stanford University.

他是斯坦福大学的教授。

He said even with evidence that there are enough rare earth materials, humans should still be concerned with creating less pollution.

他说，即使有证据表明有足够的稀土材料，人类仍然应该关注减少污染。

"Along with mining more, we should be using less," he said.

他说：“在开采更多矿的同时，我们也应该减少使用”。

The study centered on the creation of electric power and did not look at the materials used in electric car batteries.

这项研究的重点是电力创造，而不是电动汽车电池所用的材料。

Hausfather said that study is too complicated and will be examined by the team next.

霍斯法瑟说，这项研究太复杂了，接下来将由团队进行审查。

I'm Dan Friedell.

丹·弗里德尔为您播报。