VOA常速英语2007年-UN Climate Change Body Urges Cut in Greenhouse

By Anjana Pasricha
New Delhi
26 November 2007

A top official of the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change says countries will have to make deep cuts in greenhouse gas emissions¹ to avoid the worst impact of rising global temperatures. Environmental experts are preparing to discuss how to tackle climate change at a U.N. sponsored conference in Indonesia next month. Anjana Pasricha reports on the preparations from New Delhi.

The chairman of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, R.K. Pachauri, says that steps taken by countries to cut greenhouse gas emissions "are totally inadequate²" to mitigate³ the effects of climate change.

Pachauri addressed reporters in New Delhi after a recently released IPCC report stated the evidence for climate change is "unequivocal."

The IPCC report says there is 90 percent chance that climate change is caused by human activity. It warns that millions of people could be affected⁴ by more heat waves, melting glaciers⁵, rising sea levels, and smaller harvests.

Pachauri says it is important for both developed and developing countries to act quickly.

"I think what is going to be critically important is for all the countries to realize that we are in it together," he said. "I mean that is the first common conclusion we have to arrive at that is we have to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases."

Most experts say that greenhouse gases, produced mainly by burning fossil fuels for energy, are causing much of the global warming seen in recent decades.

Pachauri says the current path of development is clearly not sustainable. He says lifestyle changes have been identified as an important measure to reduce the impact of rising global temperatures.

According to Pachauri, these are not drastic measures, but steps that societies can take.

"This change of lifestyles does not really mean that we start going back start living in caves all over again," he added. "Basically it just means a shift which gives you all the goods and services and benefits that modern living involves, but with a much lower footprint in terms of emissions of greenhouse gases societies will have to decide what they can and want to do."

Pachauri cites some examples: moving away from personal transport to public transport and buildings designed to use less energy.

In places where heating is needed, people can use warmer clothes and reduce temperatures. Pachauri hoped that developed countries will take the lead to tackle climate change in the conference next month in Indonesia .

He says public opinion will have to play a significant role in pressing leaders to take the steps necessary to reverse climate change.

1 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。

2 inadequate   

adj.(for,to)不充足的，不适当的

参考例句：

• The supply is inadequate to meet the demand.供不应求。
• She was inadequate to the demands that were made on her.她还无力满足对她提出的各项要求。

3 mitigate   

vt.（使）减轻，（使）缓和

参考例句：

• The government is trying to mitigate the effects of inflation.政府正试图缓和通货膨胀的影响。
• Governments should endeavour to mitigate distress.政府应努力缓解贫困问题。

4 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。

5 glaciers   

冰河，冰川( glacier的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Glaciers gouged out valleys from the hills. 冰川把丘陵地带冲出一条条山谷。
• It has ice and snow glaciers, rainforests and beautiful mountains. 既有冰川，又有雨林和秀丽的山峰。 来自英语晨读30分（高一）