International concern is mounting that global warming could put millions of people at risk through drought, floods and other extreme weather. A group of economists, scientists, and international leaders met in New York recently to discuss how climate change poses a particular risk to developing countries, and what solutions can be taken by rich and poor countries alike.
国际社会越来越担心，全球气候变暖可能会引起干旱、洪水和其他极端天气，从而威胁到数以百万计的人。最近，一些经济学家、科学家和国际领导人在纽约召开会议，讨论气候变化对发展中国家造成的特有风险以及所有国家可以采取的解决办法。
Rich and poor countries generally agree that climate change must be addressed, but often differ on how to go about it. Developed nations, including the United States, Britain and Japan, have focused on curbing their own greenhouse gas emissions, caused mainly from burning fossil fuels for energy. Poor countries are calling for assistance in dealing with climate-related impacts, like food shortages and drought, while also meeting energy needs to spur economic growth.
富裕和贫穷国家一般都认为，气候变化的问题必须要加以解决，但是，他们往往在如何解决的问题上意见分歧。包括美国、英国和日本在内的发达国家关注的焦点在于如何限制他们自己的温室气体排放量。这些温室气体的排放主要是由于燃烧化石燃料来获得能源所造成的；贫穷国家则呼吁国际社会帮助它们在满足经济发展所需能源的同时也能够解决食品短缺和干旱等因气候变化所产生的影响。
A summit on "the State of the Planet" hosted by Columbia University examined the link between poverty and climate change, and called for a new, global plan of action to deal with the two issues.
美国哥伦比亚大学主办的地球现状高峰会探讨了贫困与气候变化之间的联系，并且呼吁有关各方针对这两个问题采取新的全球性的行动计划。
Conference participants argued that poor countries remain especially at risk to the effects of global warming. They say if left unchecked, global warming could spur conflict and puts millions of people at risk drought, mudslides, food shortages and illness.
与会人士认为，贫穷国家特别容易受到全球气候变暖后果的影响。他们表示，如果不加以控制，全球气候变暖会引发冲突，会引起干旱、泥石流、食品短缺和疾病等问题，威胁到数以百万计的人。
Former United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan said climate change is exacerbating the problems faced by poor nations.
前联合国秘书长安南说，气候变化加剧了贫穷国家所面临的问题。
"The international community must work to arrest this downward spiral," said Kofi Annan. "Developed countries carry the greatest responsibility for climate change yet the least developed suffer its impact the most. Developed countries must accept their responsibility to help poor countries deal with these changes, and must do so as a matter of urgency."
他说：“国际社会必须努力阻止这个旋涡的下滑。发达国家对气候变化负有最大的责任，而最不发达国家受到的影响最大。发达国家必须接受自己的责任，帮助贫穷国家对付这些变化，必须把履行这份责任看作是当务之急。”
Economists at the conference focused on what steps could be taken to lessen the impact of climate change as the population expands and energy needs rise around the world.
与会的经济学家关注的焦点是，在目前世界各地人口持续增长、能源需求不断扩大的情况下能够采取哪些措施才能够减少气候变化所带来的影响。
Topping the list of recommendations was the promotion of clean energy technology, including solar, wind and hydrogen power.
在他们提出的一系列建议中，首要的就是推广太阳能、风能和水力发电等清洁能源技术。
Jill Shankleman, a consultant to the World Bank's political risk insurance arm, says global hunger for oil and gas will not decrease in the near future. She said eradicating poverty and addressing conflict in developing countries requires new energy initiatives and a new approach to managing resources.
世界银行政治风险保险部门的顾问尚克曼女士说，全球对石油和天然气的饥渴在近期内不会减弱。她说，消除贫困和解决发展中国家的冲突需要新的能源倡议以及新的管理资源的途径。
"Although the awareness of climate change is expanding, for the next few decades we are also going to see the expansion of the oil and gas industry in many, many new places," said Jill Shankleman. "This will happen until the emerging, developing countries secure access to the oil and energy they need. So what's to be done? We need a new paradigm that explicitly links resource extraction with development."
她说：“尽管对气候变化的认知在不断扩大，但是在今后几十年的时间里，我们也会在许许多多新的地方看到石油和天然气工业不断发展。这个发展过程将一直持续到新兴的发展中国家能够确保获得他们所需要的石油和能源。应该采取那些行动呢？我们需要建立一个把资源开采和经济发展这两个方面清晰地联系起来的新模式。”
Economist Jeffrey Sachs said addressing climate change requires a firm commitment by rich countries to also address extreme poverty and the growing global population.
经济学家杰弗里.萨克斯说，对付气候变化问题需要富裕国家做出坚定承诺，解决极端贫困和世界人口不断增加的问题。
He said current benchmarks set by rich countries for cutting greenhouse gas emissions are insufficient. He also argues the international community is unprepared for the changes that are taking place in the world, like soaring energy and food prices.
他说，富裕国家目前为削减温室气体排放所设定的目标是不够的。他还表示，国际社会还没有做好应对正在世界各地发生的变化的准备，比如能源和食品价格的快速上涨。
He says economic systems need to be revamped and more money and attention should go toward pursuing sustainable, renewable energy sources.
他说，我们需要改进现有的经济体系，应当把更多的资金和注意力放在寻找可持续的和可再生的能源资源上。
"But, the science only takes us part of the way," said Jeffrey Sachs. "Linking the science to all of the rest that has to happen involves government, business, international organizations, civil society and each of us in our own communities and our own households. That's an extraordinarily complex challenge."
他说：“科学只能帮我们解决部分问题。要把科学和其它所有要发生的事情联系起来就需要政府、企业、国际组织、公民社会以及我们社区和我们家庭中的每一个人的参与。这是一个极其复杂的挑战。”
On Wednesday, leaders from Japan and the European Union called for an ambitious and binding new international agreement on limiting greenhouse gas emissions. They say the pact should replace the Kyoto Protocol, which is set to expire in 2012. But, the proposal did not set specific targets for emissions reductions.
星期三，日本和欧盟领导人呼吁在限制温室气体排放上达成一个大胆且具约束力的新的国际协议。他们表示，这个协议将取代在2012年到期的京都议定书。但是，这个提议没有规定具体的减排目标。 |