VOA标准英语10月-Conservationists Warn of Ecological Credit Crunch

A report by a number of leading conservation groups warns that unless prompt corrective measures are taken, the planet is heading toward an ecological¹ credit crunch². For VOA, Tom Rivers reports from London.
　

Cover of the Living Planet Report

The report is simple and stark³. Our demands on natural resources overreach what the Earth can sustain by almost a third.

The World Wildlife Fund, the Zoological Society of London and Global Footprint Network all worked jointly⁴ on what is called the Living Planet Report. And these groups conclude that more than three-quarters of the world's population lives in countries where consumption levels are simply outstripping⁵ environmental renewal⁶. They say that we collectively are taking more out of the environment than we are replacing.

"What the report shows is that there are quite stable wildlife populations in western Europe and other temperate⁷ zones. But in the countries we are consuming most from, in the tropics, those are where there are quite rapid collapses⁸. So we have got to take responsibility for our own consumption because that is impacting on some of the most vulnerable and diverse ecosystems⁹ on the planet," said David Norman, the director of British campaigns at the World Wildlife Fund.

In practical terms, Norman says the environmental damage being done in the developing world is tied to the wants and needs of the developed world.

"We are seeing massive forest clearances¹⁰ for example. Still in the Amazon, it is under great pressure and often that is to produce the kinds of goods and services that we need, that we consume in the richer world," added Norman.

For the first time, the report includes a section on what is being called our water footprint. That is a way of estimating not only the water we use everyday, but also the water that is required to make many of the products we use, like for instance, a cotton shirt. Norman says the water footprint takes into account, in this case, the water required to grow the cotton for the shirt.

"We need to manage that water more carefully to ensure that everyone has their fair share," continued Norman.

Overall, the report concludes that if our demands on the planet continue to increase at the same rate, then in just 25 years, we would need the equivalent of two Earths to maintain our present lifestyles.

The WWF's international president says that while about $2 trillion may have been lost recently in the global credit crunch, each year more than twice that figure is lost forever in resources that are taken globally and not renewed.

1 ecological   

adj.生态的，生态学的

参考例句：

• The region has been declared an ecological disaster zone.这个地区已经宣布为生态灾难区。
• Each animal has its ecological niche.每种动物都有自己的生态位.

2 crunch   

n.关键时刻；艰难局面；v.发出碎裂声

参考例句：

• If it comes to the crunch they'll support us.关键时刻他们是会支持我们的。
• People who crunch nuts at the movies can be very annoying.看电影时嘎吱作声地嚼干果的人会使人十分讨厌。

3 stark   

adj.荒凉的；严酷的；完全的；adv.完全地

参考例句：

• The young man is faced with a stark choice.这位年轻人面临严峻的抉择。
• He gave a stark denial to the rumor.他对谣言加以完全的否认。

4 jointly   

ad.联合地，共同地

参考例句：

• Tenants are jointly and severally liable for payment of the rent. 租金由承租人共同且分别承担。
• She owns the house jointly with her husband. 她和丈夫共同拥有这所房子。

5 outstripping   

v.做得比…更好，（在赛跑等中）超过( outstrip的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• Demand is outstripping supply. 需求快超过供给了。
• Demand is outstripping current production. 现在需求逐渐超过了生产能力。 来自辞典例句

6 renewal   

adj.(契约)延期，续订，更新，复活，重来

参考例句：

• Her contract is coming up for renewal in the autumn.她的合同秋天就应该续签了。
• Easter eggs symbolize the renewal of life.复活蛋象征新生。

7 temperate   

adj.温和的，温带的，自我克制的，不过分的

参考例句：

• Asia extends across the frigid,temperate and tropical zones.亚洲地跨寒、温、热三带。
• Great Britain has a temperate climate.英国气候温和。

8 collapses   

折叠( collapse的第三人称单数 )； 倒塌； 崩溃； （尤指工作劳累后）坐下

参考例句：

• This bridge table collapses. 这张桥牌桌子能折叠。
• Once Russia collapses, the last chance to stop Hitler will be gone. 一旦俄国垮台，抑止希特勒的最后机会就没有了。

9 ecosystems   

n.生态系统( ecosystem的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• There are highly sensitive and delicately balanced ecosystems in the forest. 森林里有高度敏感、灵敏平衡的各种生态系统。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Madagascar's ecosystems range from rainforest to semi-desert. 马达加斯加生态系统类型多样，从雨林到半荒漠等不一而足。 来自辞典例句

10 clearances   

清除( clearance的名词复数 )； 许可； （录用或准许接触机密以前的）审查许可； 净空

参考例句：

• But I can't get to him without clearances. 但是没有证明我就没法见到他。
• The bridge and the top of the bus was only ten clearances. 桥与公共汽车车顶之间的间隙只有十厘米。