VOA标准英语2010年-Australian Summit to Boost Global Defe

Researchers from around the world have gathered for Australia's first international conference focused entirely¹ on adapting to the impact of climate change. Organizers of the meeting say the effects of a warming planet are already being felt and that societies need to learn how to cope.

Some 1,000 delegates at the International Climate Change Adaptation Conference, south of Brisbane, will hear that the impact of warming temperatures and rising sea levels is likely to increase in severity. Governments, communities and individuals are being warned that they will need to quickly adapt to harsher conditions. Organizers of the Queensland summit say that the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions², which are widely blamed for higher temperatures, will not be enough to ward³ off the worst effects of climatic change. 

The conference is concentrating on practical ways for society to protect itself from hotter temperatures, elevated sea levels and more severe tropical cyclones⁴, which are all threats that authorities on Australia's Gold Coast, a popular, high-rise vacation spot, are factoring in to future residential⁵ and business developments.  Analysts⁶ will also discuss ways that towns and villages can fortify⁷ themselves against the ravages⁸ of bushfires, as well as protecting against heat waves and droughts.

New rules that imposed tough, new building codes after the deadly Victoria wildfires that killed more than 170 people in February, 2009, have been cited as one good example of public policy trying to protect the community from natural disasters.

Conference organizer Jean Palutikof warns that Australia will be one of the countries hardest hit by climate change starts.  However, he is hopeful the meeting on the Gold Coast will provide some valuable answers...

"This is not a climate change science conference," Palutikof said. "So, actually, I expect the messages from this conference to be positive ones around action against climate change and empowering people to act to protect themselves against climate change, so I am looking forward to three days of positive messages about how we can tackle the problem of climate change." 

Among the speakers at the meeting will be Joseph Alcamo, the chief scientist of the United Nation's Environment Program.

In coming days, the conference is expected to hear from researchers that, if the world is to learn from Australia's experience at the hand of an increasingly unpredictable climate, then it must act quickly and decisively.

However, many Australians remain wary⁹ of assertions that their country will fall victim to potentially destructive, man-made climate change. Other scientists, mining companies and farmers believe that man's influence on the environment is negligible and insist that any shifts in temperatures or sea levels are part of a natural cycle.
 

1 entirely   

ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地

参考例句：

• The fire was entirely caused by their neglect of duty. 那场火灾完全是由于他们失职而引起的。
• His life was entirely given up to the educational work. 他的一生统统献给了教育工作。

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 ward   

n.守卫，监护，病房，行政区，由监护人或法院保护的人（尤指儿童）；vt.守护，躲开

参考例句：

• The hospital has a medical ward and a surgical ward.这家医院有内科病房和外科病房。
• During the evening picnic,I'll carry a torch to ward off the bugs.傍晚野餐时，我要点根火把，抵挡蚊虫。

4 cyclones   

n.气旋( cyclone的名词复数 )；旋风；飓风；暴风

参考例句：

• The pricipal objective in designing cyclones is to create a vortex. 设计旋风除尘器的主要目的在于造成涡旋运动。 来自辞典例句
• Middle-latitude cyclones originate at the popar front. 中纬度地区的气旋发源于极锋。 来自辞典例句

5 residential   

adj.提供住宿的；居住的；住宅的

参考例句：

• The mayor inspected the residential section of the city.市长视察了该市的住宅区。
• The residential blocks were integrated with the rest of the college.住宿区与学院其他部分结合在了一起。

6 analysts   

分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
• I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。

7 fortify   

v.强化防御，为…设防；加强，强化

参考例句：

• This country will fortify the coastal areas.该国将加强沿海地区的防御。
• This treaty forbade the United States to fortify the canal.此条约禁止美国对运河设防。

8 ravages   

劫掠后的残迹，破坏的结果，毁坏后的残迹

参考例句：

• the ravages of war 战争造成的灾难
• It is hard for anyone to escape from the ravages of time. 任何人都很难逃避时间的摧残。

9 wary   

adj.谨慎的，机警的，小心的

参考例句：

• He is wary of telling secrets to others.他谨防向他人泄露秘密。
• Paula frowned,suddenly wary.宝拉皱了皱眉头，突然警惕起来。