VOA标准英语2009年-World Climate Conference to Focus on Adapt

More than 1,000 decision makers¹ and scientists, including dozens of heads of state and ministers from more than 150 countries are expected to attend the Third World Climate Conference, which opens in Geneva on Monday. The week-long meeting, organized by the World Meteorological Organization, aims to help nations cope with climate change by improving the way climate information is collected and shared among governments.
　
French Michel Jarraud, Secretary General of World Meteorological Organization (WMO) (File)

Scientists predict the world will get hotter over the coming decades. A major conference in Copenhagen at the end of the year will focus on ways to mitigate² the worst affects of global warming. It will present measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions³ to slow this process.

But, the World Meteorological Organization says mitigation alone is not enough. Largely overlooked in this process is the need for adaptation. WMO Secretary-General Michel Jarraud says countries must have the tools to adapt to a changing climate. They must be able to respond to a world that is likely to experience more extreme weather events, such as floods and hurricanes.

"For the health sector⁴, it will be to be ready to cope with a disease, which will spread in areas where they do not spread or which may become more serious," he said. "Like malaria⁵ will spread to areas which are not affected⁶ right now."

Jarraud notes farmers in certain parts of the world will have to adapt to a dryer⁷ climate. He says they might have to modify irrigation systems or consider growing crops that do not require much rain.

He says global warming is likely to increase the intensity⁸ and frequency of extreme weather events. Therefore, better and more timely information on these phenomena⁹ are essential to make decisions on climate variability and change. To do this, he says, weather observation networks must be strengthened.

"Let me give you probably one of the weakest links in that-hydrological networks in Africa are totally insufficient," said Jarraud. "Many water basins are managed without any information on precipitation, run-off, amount of water at the ground water table. So, we need to strengthen that foundation."

The WMO chief says climate change is a global problem. And, everyone needs everyone else to solve this problem. He says even the biggest, richest countries cannot do it alone. He says the developed world needs reliable weather information from developing countries and vice-versa.

"If you think about hurricanes in the Caribbean, hurricanes start their lives as waves, what we call easterly waves over Western Africa," he added. "So, to improve the quality of hurricanes over the U.S.A. five days in advance, you need to get better information over Africa. So, you see, everything is linked. The climate is a global problem."

Jarraud says the Conference will draft an action plan to better manage climate-related risks. He says access to user-friendly climate predictions and information is essential to respond to climate change.

1 makers   

n.制造者，制造商（maker的复数形式）

参考例句：

• The makers of the product assured us that there had been no sacrifice of quality. 这一产品的制造商向我们保证说他们没有牺牲质量。
• The makers are about to launch out a new product. 制造商们马上要生产一种新产品。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 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。

3 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。

4 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。

5 malaria   

n.疟疾

参考例句：

• He had frequent attacks of malaria.他常患疟疾。
• Malaria is a kind of serious malady.疟疾是一种严重的疾病。

6 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。

7 dryer   

n.干衣机，干燥剂

参考例句：

• He bought a dryer yesterday.他昨天买了一台干燥机。
• There is a washer and a dryer in the basement.地下室里有洗衣机和烘干机。

8 intensity   

n.强烈，剧烈；强度；烈度

参考例句：

• I didn't realize the intensity of people's feelings on this issue.我没有意识到这一问题能引起群情激奋。
• The strike is growing in intensity.罢工日益加剧。

9 phenomena   

n.现象

参考例句：

• Ade couldn't relate the phenomena with any theory he knew.艾德无法用他所知道的任何理论来解释这种现象。
• The object of these experiments was to find the connection,if any,between the two phenomena.这些实验的目的就是探索这两种现象之间的联系，如果存在着任何联系的话。