2006年VOA标准英语-Environmentalists Urge More Clean Energy f

By Anjana Pasricha
New Delhi
14 May 2006

Members of the environmental group Greenpeace display yellow signs reading "Clean energy now" in Chinese and English in front of a coal-burning power plant in Hong Kong (File photo - Oct. 20, 2005)   
  
The Asian Development Bank says it will spend $1 billion to promote clean energy projects in Asia. Environmentalists say it is imperative¹ for Asia to reduce its reliance on coal-based power plants, which pollute the atmosphere, and may contribute to climate change.

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The Asian Development Bank's decision to invest $1 billion dollars in cleaner energy projects comes amid wide concern over Asia's steadily² deteriorating³ environment.

A big part of the problem is the high use of coal, which fuels economic growth across the continent's expanding economies. Coal provides nearly two-thirds of China's, and half of India's energy. Coal-fired power plants also feed the energy needs of such smaller countries as Pakistan, Thailand and the Philippines.

But coal pollutes the atmosphere with toxic⁴ particles and greenhouse gases, possibly contributing to global climate change. A recent World Bank report says the rapidly expanding economies of China and India have helped drive production of greenhouse gases to a new high over the last decade.

For this reason, the environmental group, Greenpeace, is urging the Asian Development Bank, or ADB, to stop supporting what it calls "dirty coal." The bank has funded a number of coal-based projects in Asia, including Thailand's state-run Mae Moh power plant.

Tara Buakamsri of Greenpeace cites the Mae Moh facility as a prime example of how coal-fired power plants adversely⁵ affect poor communities near them.

"A lot of people have been suffering from severe, chronic⁶, long-term respiratory disease, resulting from toxic pollution from the burning coal from the power station," said Buakamsri.

Other environmentalists say the time has come for Asia to pay more attention to cleaner energy sources, such as small hydroelectric plants, solar and wind power, which currently contribute only a tiny percentage of the energy consumed in the region.

Rajendra Pachauri, chairman of the Geneva-based Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, says clean energy is critical for Asia, because the region's huge population makes it especially vulnerable to the effects of rising global temperatures.

"By the end of this century, the increase in temperature would be a further 1.4 degrees to 5.8 degrees centigrade," he noted⁷. I"f it is anywhere in that range, this will cause all kinds of impacts, most of which are undesirable⁸. On water resources, for instance, the impact could have serious implications for agriculture, and just ordinary demand for water by human beings."

The Asian Development Bank says the billion-dollar fund will be used to identify and fund projects that ensure growth, while helping⁹ to slow climate change.

1 imperative   

n.命令，需要；规则；祈使语气；adj.强制的；紧急的

参考例句：

• He always speaks in an imperative tone of voice.他老是用命令的口吻讲话。
• The events of the past few days make it imperative for her to act.过去这几天发生的事迫使她不得不立即行动。

2 steadily   

adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地

参考例句：

• The scope of man's use of natural resources will steadily grow.人类利用自然资源的广度将日益扩大。
• Our educational reform was steadily led onto the correct path.我们的教学改革慢慢上轨道了。

3 deteriorating   

恶化，变坏( deteriorate的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• The weather conditions are deteriorating. 天气变得越来越糟。
• I was well aware of the bad morale and the deteriorating factories. 我很清楚，大家情绪低落，各个工厂越搞越坏。

4 toxic   

adj.有毒的，因中毒引起的

参考例句：

• The factory had accidentally released a quantity of toxic waste into the sea.这家工厂意外泄漏大量有毒废物到海中。
• There is a risk that toxic chemicals might be blasted into the atmosphere.爆炸后有毒化学物质可能会进入大气层。

5 adversely   

ad.有害地

参考例句：

• We commented adversely upon the imbecility of that message of telegraphic style. 我们对着这条电报式的愚蠢的留言发泄了一通不满。
• Widely fluctuating exchange rates may adversely affect international trade. 浮动幅度很大的汇率可能会对国际贸易产生有害的影响。

6 chronic   

adj.(疾病)长期未愈的，慢性的；极坏的

参考例句：

• Famine differs from chronic malnutrition.饥荒不同于慢性营养不良。
• Chronic poisoning may lead to death from inanition.慢性中毒也可能由虚弱导致死亡。

7 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。

8 undesirable   

adj.不受欢迎的，不良的，不合意的，讨厌的；n.不受欢迎的人，不良分子

参考例句：

• They are the undesirable elements among the employees.他们是雇员中的不良分子。
• Certain chemicals can induce undesirable changes in the nervous system.有些化学物质能在神经系统中引起不良变化。

9 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。