NBC晚间新闻 联邦报告警示气候变化问题正在恶化

A dire¹ new forecast: More frequent and more devastating² weather crises on the horizon as average temperatures rise. 13 federal agencies produced a sixteen hundred page report required by Congress called the National Climate Assessment³. A major finding: The evidence of human caused climate changes overwhelming and continues to strengthen. The report projects staggering long-term economic consequences. Rising sea level costs as high as 118 billion dollars. An infrastructure⁴ damage of 32 billion dollars. With drought and heat expected to reduce US agricultural productivity. While President Trump⁵ gets his own close-up look at destruction from weather and fire disasters, his policies and views are at odds⁶ with the science.

We do have an impact but I don't believe the impact is merely what some say… The holiday weekend timing⁷ of this reports release drew heat. Environmental advocates like Al Gore⁸ accused the administration of trying to bury the assessment. House Democrats⁹ who take control in January pledged to tackle climate change head-on with an aggressive agenda. The White House responded the report is largely based on the most extreme scenario¹⁰ and argued the u.s.is leading the world in reducing carbon dioxide emissions¹¹. The President's agenda touts¹² fossil fuels and deregulation that can increase emissions. He said seeing fire damage did not alter his views. Beyond the unsettling predictions the National Climate Assessment says action is needed urgently. Among the recommendations, new investments in clean energy and even assessing prices on carbon emissions through taxes and fees.

一个可怕的预测：随着平均气温上升，更频繁、更具灾难性的气候危机即将到来。13个联邦机构按照国会的要求制作了一份1600页的报告，名为《国家气候评估报告》。重大发现：有压倒性的证据表明人类行为导致气候变化，并且证据在持续增强。该报告说明了气候变化带来了令人震惊的长期经济后果。海平面上升的代价高达1180亿美元。基础设施毁损损失达320亿美元。干旱和高温会降低农业生产率。但是唐纳德·特朗普总统却没有从长远来看待气候变化和火灾带来的破坏的问题，他的政策和观点与科学相违背。气候变化确实对我们有影响，但是我认为不是仅仅像有些人说的那样…这份报告是在假日周末时间发布的，这个做法引来了热议，像戈尔(Al Gore)这样的环保倡导者就指责政府试图掩盖评估结果。今年1月份控制国会的民主党人承诺将以一项积极的议程，正面应对气候变化问题。白宫方面回应说，这份报告在很大程度上是基于最极端的情况得出的，并认为美国在减少二氧化碳排放方面处于世界领先地位。唐纳德·特朗普总统在议程中极力宣扬使用化石燃料和放松管制，而这样的话会增加排放。他表示发生火灾灾害的事情不会改变他的看法。除了令人不安的预测之外，《国家气候评估报告》还提出，我们需要采取紧急行动。建议包括:投资新能源，甚至还有通过税费评估碳排放价格。

1 dire   

adj.可怕的，悲惨的，阴惨的，极端的

参考例句：

• There were dire warnings about the dangers of watching too much TV.曾经有人就看电视太多的危害性提出严重警告。
• We were indeed in dire straits.But we pulled through.那时我们的困难真是大极了，但是我们渡过了困难。

2 devastating   

adj.毁灭性的，令人震惊的，强有力的

参考例句：

• It is the most devastating storm in 20 years.这是20年来破坏性最大的风暴。
• Affairs do have a devastating effect on marriages.婚外情确实会对婚姻造成毁灭性的影响。

3 assessment   

n.评价；评估；对财产的估价，被估定的金额

参考例句：

• This is a very perceptive assessment of the situation.这是一个对该情况的极富洞察力的评价。
• What is your assessment of the situation?你对时局的看法如何？

4 infrastructure   

n.下部构造，下部组织，基础结构，基础设施

参考例句：

• We should step up the development of infrastructure for research.加强科学基础设施建设。
• We should strengthen cultural infrastructure and boost various types of popular culture.加强文化基础设施建设，发展各类群众文化。

5 trump   

n.王牌，法宝；v.打出王牌，吹喇叭

参考例句：

• He was never able to trump up the courage to have a showdown.他始终鼓不起勇气摊牌。
• The coach saved his star player for a trump card.教练保留他的明星选手，作为他的王牌。

6 odds   

n.让步，机率，可能性，比率；胜败优劣之别

参考例句：

• The odds are 5 to 1 that she will win.她获胜的机会是五比一。
• Do you know the odds of winning the lottery once?你知道赢得一次彩票的几率多大吗？

7 timing   

n.时间安排，时间选择

参考例句：

• The timing of the meeting is not convenient.会议的时间安排不合适。
• The timing of our statement is very opportune.我们发表声明选择的时机很恰当。

8 gore   

n.凝血，血污；v.（动物）用角撞伤，用牙刺破；缝以补裆；顶

参考例句：

• The fox lay dying in a pool of gore.狐狸倒在血泊中奄奄一息。
• Carruthers had been gored by a rhinoceros.卡拉瑟斯被犀牛顶伤了。

9 democrats   

n.民主主义者，民主人士( democrat的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The Democrats held a pep rally on Capitol Hill yesterday. 民主党昨天在国会山召开了竞选誓师大会。
• The democrats organize a filibuster in the senate. 民主党党员组织了阻挠议事。 来自《简明英汉词典》

10 scenario   

n.剧本，脚本；概要

参考例句：

• But the birth scenario is not completely accurate.然而分娩脚本并非完全准确的。
• This is a totally different scenario.这是完全不同的剧本。

11 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。

12 touts   

n.招徕( tout的名词复数 )；（音乐会、体育比赛等的）卖高价票的人；侦查者；探听赛马的情报v.兜售( tout的第三人称单数 )；招揽；侦查；探听赛马情报

参考例句：

• Many vouchers are returned for cash, allowing touts and middle men to make a healthy margin. 许多月饼券都被兑换成现金，这让券贩子和中间商赚取了不蜚的利润。 来自互联网
• Spotting prey, the customary crowd of hustlers and touts swarmed around, jostling for my business. 照例有大群的拉客黄牛在寻觅猎物，他们争相过来抢我的生意。 来自互联网