VOA慢速英语2015 专家们希望农业成为气候协议的中心

Experts Want Agriculture at Center of Climate Deal 专家们希望农业成为气候协议的中心

The Paris International Agricultural Show is the biggest farming event in France. The show has plenty of farm animals, growers and other people every year. 

This year some of those attending considered the effects of climate change on farm production. Farmers and experts from around the world spoke¹ about ways to prepare agriculture for a more difficult and possibly uncertain future.

Bigger droughts, more flooding and stronger storms are some of the effects that climate change has brought to our planet. Farmers are reacting to the effects of rising temperatures. But many small family farmers in developing countries suffer because of the changing conditions.

By the year 2050, farmers will have to feed a world population of about 9.6 billion. Just over seven billion people are alive today.

Jose Graziano da Silva is Director-General of the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization. He says that to deal with climate change, agriculture must become more sustainable, more resilient and more widely available. He says even the poorest people have a right to food.

"Always, the poorest and the smallest are the most vulnerable. Starting from the fact they are already in marginal awareness², so they are the first that are affected³ by a drought or by a flood that are let's say the current, ongoing⁴ impacts of the climate change."

The UN’s Food and Agricultural Organization chief spoke at an international meeting in Paris. He and other delegates looked at the issue of climate change and agriculture. A major UN climate conference will take place in the French capital in December. The goal of those talks is to reach an international deal to cut greenhouse gas emissions⁵. Studies have found links between such gases and rising temperatures.

French President Francois Hollande said the U.N. conference will not settle all the climate change problems. But he said it must at least give the world a reason for hope. He said it is important to define a plan of action to fight climate change, and agriculture must be part of the solution.

Evelyn Nguleka of Zambia is President of the World Farmers Organization. She told VOA that farmers are looking for real solutions.

"Because it is one thing just to send out an alarm that there is going to be weather pattern changes. But what is important for the farmer is how is a farmer going to be able to survive? So resilience for us is a key word - and of course, that goes with innovations."

Nadjirou Sall of northern Senegal heads an organization called ROPPA. It represents West African farmers. He said the area where he lives has been dealing⁶ with long, dry weather for many years.

He said the Paris climate conference will be useful if it considers the problems of family farmers like himself. If not - as far as he is concerned - it will be a failure.

Words in this Story

uncertain – adj., unsure

drought - n., a long period of time during which there is very little or no rain

resilient – adj., able to become strong, healthy, or successful again after something bad happens

vulnerable – adj., weak; easily hurt or harmed physically⁷, mentally, or emotionally

marginal – adj., not very important

1 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

2 awareness   

n.意识，觉悟，懂事，明智

参考例句：

• There is a general awareness that smoking is harmful.人们普遍认识到吸烟有害健康。
• Environmental awareness has increased over the years.这些年来人们的环境意识增强了。

3 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。

4 ongoing   

adj.进行中的，前进的

参考例句：

• The problem is ongoing.这个问题尚未解决。
• The issues raised in the report relate directly to Age Concern's ongoing work in this area.报告中提出的问题与“关心老人”组织在这方面正在做的工作有直接的关系。

5 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。

6 dealing   

n.经商方法，待人态度

参考例句：

• This store has an excellent reputation for fair dealing.该商店因买卖公道而享有极高的声誉。
• His fair dealing earned our confidence.他的诚实的行为获得我们的信任。

7 physically   

adj.物质上，体格上，身体上，按自然规律

参考例句：

• He was out of sorts physically,as well as disordered mentally.他浑身不舒服，心绪也很乱。
• Every time I think about it I feel physically sick.一想起那件事我就感到极恶心。