2006年VOA标准英语-Are Global Warming Solutions Possible?

By Paul Sisco
Washington, D.C.
15 August 2006
 
watch Solutions report

Global warming -- you may accept or reject those who say it is a dangerous phenomenon. But if the planet is warming, and humanity is contributing to it, shouldn't someone be thinking about solutions?   

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If the Earth is, in fact, engaged in a long-term warming cycle -- and if humanity is partly responsible -- can it be reversed?  

Scientist Richard Somerville of the Scripps Institution of Oceanography believes it can be. "Yes, but not overnight.  The way to reverse it is to reduce the emission¹ of CO2 (Carbon Dioxide) into the atmosphere.  One thing you can do is capture the CO2 as its emitted, and sequester² it. The other is to reduce your dependence³ on fossil fuels."

Possible solutions to global warming range from the simple to the complex -- from changing a light bulb to engineering giant reflectors in space.  The most talked about solutions involve expanded use of alternative energy technologies, and less reliance on fossil fuels.

Michael MacCracken   
  
Climate scientist Michael MacCracken says society has to make the commitment to change. "You have to commit to taking actions that will require society to do certain things, but many of those can be beneficial and helpful, but we're going to have to change the path that we are on and how we get energy."

Some scientists believe global warming is part of a natural cycle and will take care of itself. 

Public policy researcher Myron Ebell of the Competitive Enterprise Institute issues a caution. "There will be some negative consequences or impacts, and there will be some positive ones.  I don't think either one, either the negative or the positive will be particularly pronounced or extreme or severe."

Volcanoes, forest fires, ocean and atmospheric⁴ variability are natural occurrences that change climate conditions.  Might nature correct the warming trend itself?

Richard Somerville of the Scripps Institution of Oceanography says, "That seems very unlikely.  Science doesn't give you certainties.  Science gives you likelihood, but we think that it's likely that climate warming of the last few decades isn't due to the usual causes -- changes in the Earth's orbit, changes in the sun, volcanoes, but it's due primarily to humans adding greenhouse gases to the atmosphere."

Public policy expert Myron Ebell says, "We know that there is a lot of natural variability in the climate.  We know that people in some regions of the world at various times have lived with climates that are much warmer and much cooler than now and all the historic evidence is that they somehow managed to survive that."

 
John Topping 
  
John Topping of the nonprofit Climate Institute says it will be private industry -- not governments -- coming up with solutions.  "We need to get investment flows going in the direction of emerging clean energy technologies.  Part of that's going to happen because we, as consumers, step forward and we are conscious in our buying habits to get more energy-efficient products."

Higher gas prices are making fuel-efficient vehicles more attractive to consumers.  Building and home constructions are becoming more energy efficient.

Topping says for individuals, industries and nations dealing⁵ with climate change is a matter of thinking smart.  "Climate change is a huge challenge.  But climate change also provides an opportunity for countries to really further themselves, and that's the only way we're going to advance much globally, is to look at approaches that protect the environment at the same time that they promote equitable⁶ economic growth."

Topping says Iceland is a good example. "About 50 years ago, they were a huge importer of coal from abroad and relatively⁷ poor, but they realized if they could use the geothermal for heating, they could convert their energy system for electricity mostly to renewables.  Iceland now has the sixth highest per capita income in the world."

Wider application of renewable energy resources could reduce greenhouse gases and offset⁸ global warming.  Some scientists are suggesting grander solutions, involving rearranging Earth's environment; building huge sunshades in space, for example, tinkering with clouds to make them reflect more sunlight, perhaps tricking oceans into soaking up more heat-trapping gases.

Climate scientist Michael MacCracken recommends first steps. "There are a host of things to do first.  Many different technologies that are cost effective right now.  What we need to do is do as many and all of them as we can before we get into these geoengineering technologies that basically only serve to continue our addiction⁹ to fossil fuels."

Richard Somerville of the Scripps Institution of Oceanography sums up the search for global warming solutions this way: "We need to waste far less energy than the energy we waste now.  Furthermore, it has to be a global effort."

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 sequester   

vt.使退隐，使隔绝

参考例句：

• Everything he owned was sequestered.他的所有财产都被扣押了。
• This jury is expected to be sequestered for at least two months.预计这个陪审团将至少被隔离两个月。

3 dependence   

n.依靠，依赖；信任，信赖；隶属

参考例句：

• Doctors keep trying to break her dependence of the drug.医生们尽力使她戒除毒瘾。
• He was freed from financial dependence on his parents.他在经济上摆脱了对父母的依赖。

4 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。

5 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。

6 equitable   

adj.公平的；公正的

参考例句：

• This is an equitable solution to the dispute. 这是对该项争议的公正解决。
• Paying a person what he has earned is equitable. 酬其应得,乃公平之事。

7 relatively   

adv.比较...地，相对地

参考例句：

• The rabbit is a relatively recent introduction in Australia.兔子是相对较新引入澳大利亚的物种。
• The operation was relatively painless.手术相对来说不痛。

8 offset   

n.分支，补偿；v.抵消，补偿

参考例句：

• Their wage increases would be offset by higher prices.他们增加的工资会被物价上涨所抵消。
• He put up his prices to offset the increased cost of materials.他提高了售价以补偿材料成本的增加。

9 addiction   

n.上瘾入迷，嗜好

参考例句：

• He stole money from his parents to feed his addiction.他从父母那儿偷钱以满足自己的嗜好。
• Areas of drug dealing are hellholes of addiction,poverty and murder.贩卖毒品的地区往往是吸毒上瘾、贫困和发生谋杀的地方。