2007年VOA标准英语-UN Panel Meets On Climate Change

By Ron Corben
Bangkok
30 April 2007

Scientists and other experts from 120 countries are meeting in Thailand this week to discuss ways to respond to climate change. The same group warned earlier this year that global warming poses a major threat to mankind. Ron Corben reports from Bangkok.

Earlier this year, the said that humans were likely the cause of global warming, which is expected to bring violent storms, droughts, flooding and famine.

This week, the experts are debating a report about what governments and international organizations can do to limit the effects of climate change.

The 1,500-page report and a 20-page summary are due for release Friday.

Early drafts of the summary call for world leaders to act quickly to reduce global warming, especially by containing or reducing the emission¹ of so-called "greenhouse gases" such as carbon dioxide.

Rajendra Pachauri, chairman of the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change

Rajendra Pachauri, chairman of the IPCC, told delegates the report would discuss how new technology can fight global warming.

"There is a forward-looking assessment² of technological³ options, and this, I think, will certainly make this report of great relevance⁴, even from the point of view of initiatives in the field of science and technology, and the development of new technologies," he said.

Pachauri says the report will provide guidelines, but it will be up to governments to follow through.

Environmental groups say the United States and China - the two largest producers of greenhouse gases - may seek to weaken the recommendations in the final report.

The report is expected to recommend the use of alternatives to coal and oil, and reforestation.

Pachauri said all countries will have the chance to debate and express their views in closed plenary sessions over the next several days.

"Ultimately, it's balanced assessment of the science which prevails. That's precisely⁵ why we have authors present," he continued, "so that they can give the reasons, they can provide the justification⁶ for all their findings."

The draft summary report says the cost of cutting greenhouse gas emissions⁷ could be relatively⁸ low, emphasizing better fuel efficiency, subsidies⁹ for renewable energy and the use of technology to ensure more energy-efficient buildings.

1 emission   

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。

2 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？

3 technological   

adj.技术的；工艺的

参考例句：

• A successful company must keep up with the pace of technological change.一家成功的公司必须得跟上技术变革的步伐。
• Today,the pace of life is increasing with technological advancements.当今， 随着科技进步，生活节奏不断增快。

4 relevance   

n.中肯，适当，关联，相关性

参考例句：

• Politicians' private lives have no relevance to their public roles.政治家的私生活与他们的公众角色不相关。
• Her ideas have lost all relevance to the modern world.她的想法与现代社会完全脱节。

5 precisely   

adv.恰好，正好，精确地，细致地

参考例句：

• It's precisely that sort of slick sales-talk that I mistrust.我不相信的正是那种油腔滑调的推销宣传。
• The man adjusted very precisely.那个人调得很准。

6 justification   

n.正当的理由；辩解的理由

参考例句：

• There's no justification for dividing the company into smaller units. 没有理由把公司划分成小单位。
• In the young there is a justification for this feeling. 在年轻人中有这种感觉是有理由的。

7 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。

8 relatively   

adv.比较...地，相对地

参考例句：

• The rabbit is a relatively recent introduction in Australia.兔子是相对较新引入澳大利亚的物种。
• The operation was relatively painless.手术相对来说不痛。

9 subsidies   

n.补贴，津贴，补助金( subsidy的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• European agriculture ministers failed to break the deadlock over farm subsidies. 欧洲各国农业部长在农业补贴问题上未能打破僵局。
• Agricultural subsidies absorb about half the EU's income. 农业补贴占去了欧盟收入的大约一半。 来自《简明英汉词典》