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Officials Hope New Technologies Will Reduce Warming Gasses

时间:2022-11-14 01:14:24

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(单词翻译)

Scientists say the Earth's temperature has risen by about 1.1 degrees Celsius1 since the modern industrial period began.

And they warn that the effects of rising temperatures will get worse with every increase of one tenth of a degree.

Many scientists and government officials say that it is important to not burn more fossil fuels such as coal, oil and natural gas. Such fuels release carbon dioxide. Many scientists blame rising temperatures on carbon dioxide trapping heat in the Earth's atmosphere.

In a 2021 report, the Paris-based International Energy Agency (IEA) said there can be no new investments in fossil fuels if officials want to reach their temperature goal.

The most recent report by the United Nations' Intergovernmental Panel for Climate Change called for "immediate2 and deep" cuts to fossil fuels. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres spoke3 about those goals at the 2021 climate conference in Glasgow, Scotland, known as COP26. He said, "Our addiction4 to fossil fuels is pushing humanity to the brink5."

Addiction is a strong and harmful need to do something or have something.

The world depends on fossil fuels for much of its electricity, heating and transportation. Fossil fuels are also important for agriculture and industry. But officials say that cleaner, renewable energy sources — such as solar and wind energy — will replace much of that demand.

Observers say the cost of renewable energy is decreasing. Also, more renewable energy is being produced in sustainable ways. However, the total amount of energy produced has also gone up.

Elizabeth Robinson is with the Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment. She said that many places are using renewable energy, "but emissions7 are continuing to rise."

She added, "We also need to see overall global emissions falling, and at the moment global emissions from fossil fuels are still increasing."

While renewable energy works for electricity production, other industries — such as cement-making, steel and shipping8 — depend on fossil fuels.

That is why experts are studying technologies that might be used in some industries. Some have suggested using "green fuels," such as ones made out of plant materials or natural waste, known as biofuels.

Two newer technologies being explored include carbon capture, which takes carbon dioxide out of the air, and green hydrogen, which uses renewable energy to make hydrogen. But, these technologies are costly9 and untested on a large scale.

Some scientists say methane10, another carbon gas that traps heat, must be greatly reduced. Methane is about 25 times more effective at trapping heat than carbon dioxide. Once released, scientists estimate it stays in the atmosphere for about 12 years.

Many countries at the COP26 meeting in Glasgow last year promised to stop methane leaks from oil wells and gas pipelines11. Scientists say such methane reductions would have immediate effects on slowing the warming of the atmosphere.

Robinson said there are two areas in which action could slow the warming of the atmosphere: stopping deforestation and reducing the eating of animals. Forests naturally take in carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. When forests are cut for agriculture, especially for animals that need large amounts of land, more greenhouse gases are released into the air.

Robinson added that these ideas represent "a very controversial area." But, she added, "in most higher income countries, most people eat far more meat than they need to."

Words in This Story

brink –n. : the edge at the top of a steep cliff — usually used figuratively to refer to a point that is very close to the occurrence of something very bad

renewable – adj. : restored or replaced by natural processes : able to be replaced by nature

sustainable – adj. able to be used without being completely used up or destroyed

emission6 –n. (often pl.) something that is released such as a gas into the atmosphere

deforestation – n. the act or result of cutting down or burning all the trees in an area

controversial – adj. relating to or causing much discussion, disagreement, or argument : likely to produce controversy


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1 Celsius AXRzl     
adj.摄氏温度计的,摄氏的
参考例句:
  • The temperature tonight will fall to seven degrees Celsius.今晚气温将下降到七摄氏度。
  • The maximum temperature in July may be 36 degrees Celsius.七月份最高温度可能达到36摄氏度。
2 immediate aapxh     
adj.立即的;直接的,最接近的;紧靠的
参考例句:
  • His immediate neighbours felt it their duty to call.他的近邻认为他们有责任去拜访。
  • We declared ourselves for the immediate convocation of the meeting.我们主张立即召开这个会议。
3 spoke XryyC     
n.(车轮的)辐条;轮辐;破坏某人的计划;阻挠某人的行动 v.讲,谈(speak的过去式);说;演说;从某种观点来说
参考例句:
  • They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
  • The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。
4 addiction JyEzS     
n.上瘾入迷,嗜好
参考例句:
  • He stole money from his parents to feed his addiction.他从父母那儿偷钱以满足自己的嗜好。
  • Areas of drug dealing are hellholes of addiction,poverty and murder.贩卖毒品的地区往往是吸毒上瘾、贫困和发生谋杀的地方。
5 brink OWazM     
n.(悬崖、河流等的)边缘,边沿
参考例句:
  • The tree grew on the brink of the cliff.那棵树生长在峭壁的边缘。
  • The two countries were poised on the brink of war.这两个国家处于交战的边缘。
6 emission vjnz4     
n.发出物,散发物;发出,散发
参考例句:
  • Rigorous measures will be taken to reduce the total pollutant emission.采取严格有力措施,降低污染物排放总量。
  • Finally,the way to effectively control particulate emission is pointed out.最后,指出有效降低颗粒排放的方向。
7 emissions 1a87f8769eb755734e056efecb5e2da9     
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。
8 shipping WESyg     
n.船运(发货,运输,乘船)
参考例句:
  • We struck a bargain with an American shipping firm.我们和一家美国船运公司谈成了一笔生意。
  • There's a shipping charge of £5 added to the price.价格之外另加五英镑运输费。
9 costly 7zXxh     
adj.昂贵的,价值高的,豪华的
参考例句:
  • It must be very costly to keep up a house like this.维修这么一幢房子一定很昂贵。
  • This dictionary is very useful,only it is a bit costly.这本词典很有用,左不过贵了些。
10 methane t1Eyx     
n.甲烷,沼气
参考例句:
  • The blast was caused by pockets of methane gas that ignited.爆炸是由数袋甲烷气体着火引起的。
  • Methane may have extraterrestrial significance.甲烷具有星际意义。
11 pipelines 2bee8f0b9bb303b1f1a466fd43666db3     
管道( pipeline的名词复数 ); 输油管道; 在考虑(或规划、准备) 中; 在酿中
参考例句:
  • The oil is carried to the oil refinery by pipelines. 石油通过输油管输送到炼油厂。
  • The oil carried in pipelines. 石油用管道输送。

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