2007年VOA标准英语-Asia Struggles to Balance Economic Needs Agains

By Kurt Achin
Kyoto
06 May 2007

Japan's Finance Minister Koji Omi makes an opening speech at the 40th annual meeting of ADB at Kyoto International Conference Center in Kyoto, 06 May 2007

Japan is devoting a sizable sum of money to making Asia's use of energy more earth-friendly. Tokyo's announcement came at the meeting of the Asia Development Bank in the Japanese city of Kyoto, where bank officials and government leaders are struggling to strike a balance between the need for strong economic growth and the devastating¹ environmental effects of fossil fuel consumption. VOA's Kurt Achin reports from Kyoto.

Japanese  came here at the annual Asian Development Bank meeting, where ADB officials say the bank must reinvent itself to cope with a much wealthier and more energy-hungry region than the one the bank began lending to 40 years ago.

Asia's energy use has grown by 230 percent over the last 30 years of explosive industrialization. Asia now uses a quarter of the world's energy supply, compared with only 13 percent 10 years ago. And energy demand is expected to keep growing.

Supachai Panitchpakdi is chairman of an expert panel called the Eminent² Persons Group, which last month issued a blueprint³ for the ADB's evolution. Supachai says the region's old model of growth at any cost is no longer feasible.

"Just growth is not enough. We still think that high growth is very important for Asia, but growth must be turned into environmentally sustainable growth," said Panitchpakdi.

At present, Asia relies mainly on fossil fuels for its energy, 41 percent of its needs are met by burning coal. But coal releases large amounts of carbon into the atmosphere, trapping heat and, scientists believe, fueling global warming.

Two days ago, a United Nations scientific panel warned that the earth would experience dramatic negative consequences, such as flooding, damaged agriculture, and water shortages, if urgent action is not taken to reduce carbon emissions⁴.

Experts say Asia should take the lead on the problem, because the region is due to make huge investments in energy infrastructure⁵ in the coming decades. Um Woo-chong, who directs energy and sustainable growth for the ADB, says the bank is trying to help member countries choose the right options.

"We are targeting, in the ADB portfolio⁶, starting in 2008, to have at least a $1 billion investment in clean energy," said Um Woo-chong.

Nevertheless, the ADB is also funding nearly $2 billion worth of coal-related projects in the coming year.

Um says sometimes the ADB has to balance its environmental goals with members' development needs. Coal is dirty, but it is also cheap and readily available.

"One of the key aspects is to ensure that there is energy security in many of these countries.  And they oftentimes try to look for energy sources which are indigenous⁷ to their country, so they don't have to rely on outside forces," added Um.

Environmental groups like Greenpeace, not surprisingly, reject this pragmatic approach.

Greenpeace activist⁸ Athena Ballesteros says the ADB needs to show members how to think differently at the energy planning stage.

"Energy security is not just about coal, or oil, or gas. Energy security is about what happens to your country if climate change happens," said Ballesteros.

Activists⁹ say alternative energy can be just as economically sensible as fossil fuels. The challenge, however, lies in persuading private investors¹⁰ of that fact.

The International Energy Agency says Asia will need to invest some $16 trillion in energy infrastructure over the next three decades, which makes contributions from public entities¹¹ like the ADB a drop in the bucket.

1 devastating   

adj.毁灭性的，令人震惊的，强有力的

参考例句：

• It is the most devastating storm in 20 years.这是20年来破坏性最大的风暴。
• Affairs do have a devastating effect on marriages.婚外情确实会对婚姻造成毁灭性的影响。

2 eminent   

adj.显赫的，杰出的，有名的，优良的

参考例句：

• We are expecting the arrival of an eminent scientist.我们正期待一位著名科学家的来访。
• He is an eminent citizen of China.他是一个杰出的中国公民。

3 blueprint   

n.蓝图，设计图，计划；vt.制成蓝图，计划

参考例句：

• All the machine parts on a blueprint must answer each other.设计图上所有的机器部件都应互相配合。
• The documents contain a blueprint for a nuclear device.文件内附有一张核装置的设计蓝图。

4 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。

5 infrastructure   

n.下部构造，下部组织，基础结构，基础设施

参考例句：

• We should step up the development of infrastructure for research.加强科学基础设施建设。
• We should strengthen cultural infrastructure and boost various types of popular culture.加强文化基础设施建设，发展各类群众文化。

6 portfolio   

n.公事包；文件夹；大臣及部长职位

参考例句：

• He remembered her because she was carrying a large portfolio.他因为她带着一个大公文包而记住了她。
• He resigned his portfolio.他辞去了大臣职务。

7 indigenous   

adj.土产的，土生土长的，本地的

参考例句：

• Each country has its own indigenous cultural tradition.每个国家都有自己本土的文化传统。
• Indians were the indigenous inhabitants of America.印第安人是美洲的土著居民。

8 activist   

n.活动分子，积极分子

参考例句：

• He's been a trade union activist for many years.多年来他一直是工会的积极分子。
• He is a social activist in our factory.他是我厂的社会活动积极分子。

9 activists   

n.（政治活动的）积极分子，活动家( activist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• His research work was attacked by animal rights activists . 他的研究受到了动物权益维护者的抨击。
• Party activists with lower middle class pedigrees are numerous. 党的激进分子中有很多出身于中产阶级下层。 来自《简明英汉词典》

10 investors   

n.投资者，出资者( investor的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• a con man who bilked investors out of millions of dollars 诈取投资者几百万元的骗子
• a cash bonanza for investors 投资者的赚钱机会

11 entities   

实体对像； 实体，独立存在体，实际存在物( entity的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Our newspaper and our printing business form separate corporate entities. 我们的报纸和印刷业形成相对独立的企业实体。
• The North American continent is made up of three great structural entities. 北美大陆是由三个构造单元组成的。