科学家表示今年二氧化碳含量将上升

Scientists: CO2 Levels Will Rise This Year

International scientists think the amount of carbon dioxide emissions² released into Earth’s atmosphere will rise by two percent in 2017.

The number represents the first increase in worldwide carbon emissions in three years. The amount produced was unchanged from 2014 to 2016.

Carbon dioxide, known by the chemical expression CO2, is a colorless gas found in nature. Many scientists believe that it and other gases released by factories, vehicles and other human activities are responsible for a general warming on our planet. They believe these gases trap the sun’s heat in the atmosphere. This effect is known as global warming.

Last week, scientists with the Global Carbon Project reported that China, the world’s largest producer of CO2, is the main reason for the increase in emissions. China’s emissions are predicted to rise by over three percent this year.

As a result, the scientists warn that emission¹ goals set by the Paris Agreement on climate change will be more difficult to reach.

Corinne Le Quere is the lead researcher for the Global Carbon Project. In a statement, she said, “With global CO2 emissions from all human activities estimated at 41 billion tonnes for 2017, time is running out on our ability to keep warming well below 2° Celsius³ (C), let alone 1.5°C.”

The group’s report came as representatives from more than 190 countries met in Germany to discuss details of the climate agreement.

Scientists: Paris Agreement goals harder to reach

The Paris Agreement on climate change is an international deal meant to keep the Earth’s atmosphere from warming too much.

Governments agreed in 2015 on a long-term goal of keeping the global average temperature “to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels.”

The United Nations website for Paris Agreement issues notes that 170 parties have approved the deal.

The United States signed the Paris Agreement in 2016, but President Donald Trump⁴ has announced plans to withdraw the U.S. from the deal. He said it does not treat all parties equally and could hurt America’s economic growth.

In 2017, U.S. carbon emissions are predicted to decrease by 0.4 percent from the year before. American emissions have been falling for several years, although the decrease is expected to slow in 2017.

The Global Carbon Project report blames the increased use of coal for China’s increased emissions and slowing declines in the United States.

Little U.S. presence at climate change conference

The scientists released their findings in the Global Carbon Budget as the U.N. was holding a conference on climate change in Bonn, Germany. The international gathering⁵ was the first of its kind since the U.S. said it plans to withdraw from the Paris Agreement.

However, U.S. State Department officials attended the Bonn conference. So did some U.S. lawmakers and the governor of California, Jerry Brown.

The conference is part of a 1994 U.N. convention that sets goals for reducing carbon emissions. The idea of the U.N. effort is to limit temperature increases in the Earth’s atmosphere and the risks tied to climate change.

Many of the delegates in Bonn were negotiating details of the Paris Agreement. These include emissions targets for countries that have signed and approved the deal.

The agreement, however, is non-binding, meaning it does not have the force of law.

Developing nations want rich ones to pay for some of the effects of climate change. Many poor countries have added little to carbon emissions but say they face high costs linked to environmental and pollution controls.

Crop loss, drought, floods and rising sea levels are a few of the costly⁶ problems tied to climate change.

Rich countries say they are already paying billions of dollars to help developing nations with useful technologies, such as renewable energy.

Other reports describe possible changes to climate

Earlier this month, the U.S. government released its own report on climate research.

The study was overseen⁷ by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric⁸ Administration. It found that the average temperature worldwide increased by one degree Celsius over the past 115 years.

The government report said: “It is extremely likely that human activities, especially emissions of greenhouse gases, are the dominant⁹ cause of the observed warming since the mid-20th century.”

The report warned of risks linked to rising temperatures, such as shrinking arctic ice cover and rising sea levels.

It noted¹⁰ that, on average, sea levels have risen between 16 and 21 centimeters since 1900. About seven centimeters of that increase has taken place since 1993. That is the first year that satellites were used to measure sea levels.

I’m Mario Ritter.

Words in This Story

emissions – n. a material that is given off or released

party – n. a person, group of country taking one side of an issue or dispute

decline – v. to go down, to be reduced in number or amount

convention – n. a formal agreement between two or more groups

greenhouse gases – n. a group of gasses that trap heat and are linked to increased temperatures in the atmosphere including carbon dioxide and methane¹¹

dominant – adj. more important, the most common

1 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。

2 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。

3 Celsius   

adj.摄氏温度计的，摄氏的

参考例句：

• The temperature tonight will fall to seven degrees Celsius.今晚气温将下降到七摄氏度。
• The maximum temperature in July may be 36 degrees Celsius.七月份最高温度可能达到36摄氏度。

4 trump   

n.王牌，法宝；v.打出王牌，吹喇叭

参考例句：

• He was never able to trump up the courage to have a showdown.他始终鼓不起勇气摊牌。
• The coach saved his star player for a trump card.教练保留他的明星选手，作为他的王牌。

5 gathering   

n.集会，聚会，聚集

参考例句：

• He called on Mr. White to speak at the gathering.他请怀特先生在集会上讲话。
• He is on the wing gathering material for his novels.他正忙于为他的小说收集资料。

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 overseen   

v.监督，监视( oversee的过去分词 )

参考例句：

• He was overseen stealing the letters. 他被人撞见在偷信件。 来自辞典例句
• It will be overseen by ThomasLi, director of IBM China Research Laboratory. 该实验室由IBM中国研究院院长李实恭(ThomasLi)引导。 来自互联网

8 atmospheric   

adj.大气的，空气的；大气层的；大气所引起的

参考例句：

• Sea surface temperatures and atmospheric circulation are strongly coupled.海洋表面温度与大气环流是密切相关的。
• Clouds return radiant energy to the surface primarily via the atmospheric window.云主要通过大气窗区向地表辐射能量。

9 dominant   

adj.支配的，统治的；占优势的；显性的；n.主因，要素，主要的人(或物)；显性基因

参考例句：

• The British were formerly dominant in India.英国人从前统治印度。
• She was a dominant figure in the French film industry.她在法国电影界是个举足轻重的人物。

10 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

11 methane   

n.甲烷，沼气

参考例句：

• The blast was caused by pockets of methane gas that ignited.爆炸是由数袋甲烷气体着火引起的。
• Methane may have extraterrestrial significance.甲烷具有星际意义。