VOA标准英语2009年-China Powers Ahead in Green Technologies

By Laurel Bowman
Washington
08 October 2009

 
A wind power "farm" in China
For many, the words "China" and "environmentalism" don't go hand in hand. Instead, visions of China might include smog-filled skylines and factories belching¹ out clouds of smoke. But a growing green movement is underway in China's industries, and some experts are betting that China will leap ahead in renewable energy. 

Change is blowing in China - in the form of green technologies like these wind turbines. For each of the last four years, China has doubled its wind energy capacity. This year, the People's Republic is set to overtake the U.S. as the world's top manufacturer of wind turbines.

In the next decade, China believes it can match Europe by producing a fifth of its energy needs from renewable sources. China is striving to become a clean energy superpower, even as the United States moves to do the same.

President Obama speaks at White House, 2 Oct 2009 (file photo)
 
PRESIDENT OBAMA: "There's no longer a question about whether the jobs and industries of the 21st century will be centered around clean, renewable energy. The only question is which country will create these jobs and these industries."

Experts say China may be positioning to take the lead, and not just in wind energy. The country now has the largest solar power manufacturing industry, with the government recently approving a plan to build the largest solar field on Earth, 65 square kilometers, generating enough energy to light three million homes.

Richard Gledhill, an analyst² at Price WaterhouseCoopers, says
"China is very well-positioned to become a leader in green technology. The combination of its continued economic growth, its technological³ and manufacturing capability⁴ and strong government commitment, driven in part by growing concerns about climate change and about other environmental threats is creating real momentum⁵ in the green tech sector⁶."

Almost 40 percent of China's latest stimulus⁷ package has been allocated⁸ to green business, compared to 12 percent of the U.S. package.

But some say China is using protectionist policies like export subsidies⁹ to gain advantage in the renewable energy field. And that the U.S. should toughen up on trade.

"We are losing all the cutting-edge industries to China because of China's trade policies and because of the reluctance¹⁰ of the Obama Administration, just like the Bush Administration, to stand up to China. It's a very sad and tragic¹¹ thing," said economist¹² Peter Morici of the University of Maryland Smith School of Business.

Morici says don't be too quick to applaud China's efforts. China is the world's largest producer of carbon dioxide. Of the world's 20 most polluted cities, 16 cities are in China, most of the pollution caused by coal-fire generated power.

 

1 belching   

n. 喷出，打嗝 动词belch的现在分词形式

参考例句：

• The Tartars employed another weapon, the so-called Chinese dragon belching fire. 鞑靼人使用了另一种武器，所谓中国龙喷火器。
• Billows of smoke were belching from the chimney. 巨浪似的烟正从烟囱里喷出来。

2 analyst   

n.分析家，化验员；心理分析学家

参考例句：

• What can you contribute to the position of a market analyst?你有什么技能可有助于市场分析员的职务？
• The analyst is required to interpolate values between standards.分析人员需要在这些标准中插入一些值。

3 technological   

adj.技术的；工艺的

参考例句：

• A successful company must keep up with the pace of technological change.一家成功的公司必须得跟上技术变革的步伐。
• Today,the pace of life is increasing with technological advancements.当今， 随着科技进步，生活节奏不断增快。

4 capability   

n.能力；才能；(pl)可发展的能力或特性等

参考例句：

• She has the capability to become a very fine actress.她有潜力成为杰出演员。
• Organizing a whole department is beyond his capability.组织整个部门是他能力以外的事。

5 momentum   

n.动力，冲力，势头；动量

参考例句：

• We exploit the energy and momentum conservation laws in this way.我们就是这样利用能量和动量守恒定律的。
• The law of momentum conservation could supplant Newton's third law.动量守恒定律可以取代牛顿第三定律。

6 sector   

n.部门，部分；防御地段，防区；扇形

参考例句：

• The export sector will aid the economic recovery. 出口产业将促进经济复苏。
• The enemy have attacked the British sector.敌人已进攻英国防区。

7 stimulus   

n.刺激，刺激物，促进因素，引起兴奋的事物

参考例句：

• Regard each failure as a stimulus to further efforts.把每次失利看成对进一步努力的激励。
• Light is a stimulus to growth in plants.光是促进植物生长的一个因素。

8 allocated   

adj. 分配的 动词allocate的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• The Ford Foundation allocated millions of dollars for cancer research. 福特基金会拨款数百万美元用于癌症研究。
• More funds will now be allocated to charitable organizations. 现在会拨更多的资金给慈善组织。

9 subsidies   

n.补贴，津贴，补助金( subsidy的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• European agriculture ministers failed to break the deadlock over farm subsidies. 欧洲各国农业部长在农业补贴问题上未能打破僵局。
• Agricultural subsidies absorb about half the EU's income. 农业补贴占去了欧盟收入的大约一半。 来自《简明英汉词典》

10 reluctance   

n.厌恶，讨厌，勉强，不情愿

参考例句：

• The police released Andrew with reluctance.警方勉强把安德鲁放走了。
• He showed the greatest reluctance to make a reply.他表示很不愿意答复。

11 tragic   

adj.悲剧的，悲剧性的，悲惨的

参考例句：

• The effect of the pollution on the beaches is absolutely tragic.污染海滩后果可悲。
• Charles was a man doomed to tragic issues.查理是个注定不得善终的人。

12 economist   

n.经济学家，经济专家，节俭的人

参考例句：

• He cast a professional economist's eyes on the problem.他以经济学行家的眼光审视这个问题。
• He's an economist who thinks he knows all the answers.他是个经济学家，自以为什么都懂。