VOA标准英语2009年-UK Group: Limiting Population Growth C

There is a consensus¹ among the delegates and world leaders attending the climate change conference in Copenhagen on the need to cut greenhouse gas emissions² and shift to cleaner/more efficient energy. But a research center in Britain is espousing³ a different, more controversial approach.

Rachel Smalley | London 16 December 2009

 
Photo: VOA Image
 
There are plenty of baby carriages on the streets of London, but Britain's birth-rate is low - just 1.8 children for every woman of child-bearing age.

The world's population, however, is soaring. It is currently 6.8 billion, according to the U.S Census⁴ Bureau, and the U.N. estimates it will reach 9 billion by 2050.

And that growth rate, according to Simon Ross of Britain's Optimum Population Trust, is unsustainable.

"If we have one or two children, then we're really just replacing ourselves," he said.  "Two parents and two children - of course some people don't have children at all. So if most people said, 'Yes, I'll have one or two children and that's enough, that's me with my family,' then the population will gradually decline and we'll get back to a number that's sustainable."

The Optimum Population Trust wants the world to prioritize family planning. It estimates that 200 million women - mainly in sub-Saharan Africa and parts of Asia - don't have access to birth control. Given the opportunity, the Trust believes many people would choose to have fewer children.

"We are talking about voluntary methods here," he added.  "There's no implication from us that this is something that people will be made to do. It's something that people actually do want to do. If they have access to those methods they tend to have one or two children, that's our experience worldwide."

Mainstream⁵ climate experts continue to see renewable energies like solar power as the solution. Derry Newman, the CEO of Solar Century, Britain's largest solar energy company, doesn't believe population control is the answer.

"Who are we to dictate⁶ whether you should or should not have the next generation? And there are many, many more things to do before we consider such draconian⁷ objectives," he said.

The world's population can be supported, he says, but developed countries with large carbon footprints need to change the way they generate and use energy.

"Most people want to do the right thing," he added.  "Very few people want to be wasteful⁸.  Very few people want to spend more on energy than they really need to.  So if you can give people options which are cost-effective, long term value-adding to their property or business, and help them do what they believe to be the right thing, then it is win-win all around."

How to cut energy consumption, switch to cleaner technologies and find funding for it all - these are issues that delegates, government ministers and world leaders are discussing in Copenhagen this week.  And they are being reminded that what they do will determine the lives of the world's future generations.
 

1 consensus   

n.(意见等的)一致，一致同意，共识

参考例句：

• Can we reach a consensus on this issue?我们能在这个问题上取得一致意见吗？
• What is the consensus of opinion at the afternoon meeting?下午会议上一致的意见是什么？

2 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。

3 espousing   

v.（决定）支持，拥护（目标、主张等）( espouse的现在分词 )

参考例句：

4 census   

n.(官方的)人口调查，人口普查

参考例句：

• A census of population is taken every ten years.人口普查每10年进行一次。
• The census is taken one time every four years in our country.我国每四年一次人口普查。

5 mainstream   

n.（思想或行为的）主流；adj.主流的

参考例句：

• Their views lie outside the mainstream of current medical opinion.他们的观点不属于当今医学界观点的主流。
• Polls are still largely reflects the mainstream sentiment.民调还在很大程度上反映了社会主流情绪。

6 dictate   

v.口授；(使)听写；指令，指示，命令

参考例句：

• It took him a long time to dictate this letter.口述这封信花了他很长时间。
• What right have you to dictate to others?你有什么资格向别人发号施令？

7 draconian   

adj.严苛的；苛刻的；严酷的；龙一样的

参考例句：

• You can't expect the people to obey such draconian regulations.你不能指望人民服从如此严苛的规定。
• The city needs a draconian way of dealing with robbers.这个城市需要一个严苛的办法来对付强盗。

8 wasteful   

adj.（造成）浪费的，挥霍的

参考例句：

• It is a shame to be so wasteful.这样浪费太可惜了。
• Duties have been reassigned to avoid wasteful duplication of work.为避免重复劳动浪费资源，任务已经重新分派。