2007年VOA标准英语-Scientists Await Recommendations of Global Clim

By Mike O'Sullivan
Los Angeles
03 May 2007

Leading environmental experts who are meeting in Bangkok this week are hammering out details of a report on ways to fight climate change. Several leading US scientists say the report, to be released Friday, will be the most comprehensive assessment¹ to date of research on the subject. VOA's Mike O'Sullivan has details.

Climate Change conference delegates walk past protesters in front of United Nations office in Bangkok, 30 Apr 2007

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change was set up in 1988 by the United Nations, and draws on the work of more than 2,000 specialists to advise governments. In two reports released this year, the panel's working groups said it is very likely that humans are to blame for most of the global warming of the last half-century, and that its result could be catastrophic. The panel outlined the expected impact of hotter weather, from rising ocean levels to shifting weather patterns.

The report to be released Friday will evaluate remedies for reducing greenhouse gasses, including carbon dioxide, which are produced by burning fossil fuels and contribute of global warming.

Three US scientists briefed reporters by telephone on the process that their colleagues are conducting this week in Thailand, as members of the panel's working group debate their recommendations line by line.

Stephen Schneider of Stanford University was the coordinating² lead author for one chapter of a panel report released in 2001, and was co-author on another report released last month. He says national interest can influence the evaluation³ process. He says oil-producing countries and those that want to use more coal may focus on the uncertainties⁴ in the science. Island nations, on the other hand, may overstate the threat of global warming, which has a direct impact on their economies.

"And usually, both sides pick out parts that are true, but are out of balance in the full range of the literature. And then it is up to the lead authors to make a decision," he explained.

He says the international panel must evaluate the quality of research and summarize the options for policymakers.

Those options could include a carbon tax and other incentives⁵ for the use of alternative fuels, as well as measures to boost the efficiency of fossil fuels like coal. He says coal-fired power plants are responsible for 40 percent of US greenhouse gas emissions⁶, but that simple changes could enable the plants to achieve up to half of their share in reductions sought by the Kyoto climate accords. He says the changes would require no new equipment, only more efficient operations and better maintenance.

Art Rosenfeld, a climate scientist and a commissioner⁷ with the California Energy Commission, says nuclear power remains⁸ an option, but that California is focusing instead on increased efficiency through energy-saving technology.

Possible results of climate change include intensified⁹ hurricanes, droughts and flooding. More severe scenarios¹⁰ foresee the extinction¹¹ of some species, the melting of ice sheets and disappearance¹² of some low-lying coastal¹³ regions. The working group of the climate panel will outline various options for slowing climate change. And the US scientists say that whatever the recommendations, the costs of mitigation are likely to be lower than the costs of global warming.

1 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？

2 coordinating   

v.使协调，使调和( coordinate的现在分词 )；协调；协同；成为同等

参考例句：

• He abolished the Operations Coordinating Board and the Planning Board. 他废除了行动协调委员会和计划委员会。 来自辞典例句
• He's coordinating the wedding, and then we're not going to invite him? 他是来协调婚礼的，难道我们不去请他？ 来自电影对白

3 evaluation   

n.估价，评价；赋值

参考例句：

• I attempted an honest evaluation of my own life.我试图如实地评价我自己的一生。
• The new scheme is still under evaluation.新方案还在评估阶段。

4 uncertainties   

无把握( uncertainty的名词复数 )； 不确定； 变化不定； 无把握、不确定的事物

参考例句：

• One of the uncertainties of military duty is that you never know when you might suddenly get posted away. 任军职不稳定的因素之一是你永远不知道什么时候会突然被派往它处。
• Uncertainties affecting peace and development are on the rise. 影响和平与发展的不确定因素在增加。 来自汉英非文学 - 十六大报告

5 incentives   

激励某人做某事的事物( incentive的名词复数 )； 刺激； 诱因； 动机

参考例句：

• tax incentives to encourage savings 鼓励储蓄的税收措施
• Furthermore, subsidies provide incentives only for investments in equipment. 更有甚者，提供津贴仅是为鼓励增添设备的投资。 来自英汉非文学 - 环境法 - 环境法

6 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。

7 commissioner   

n.（政府厅、局、处等部门）专员，长官，委员

参考例句：

• The commissioner has issued a warrant for her arrest.专员发出了对她的逮捕令。
• He was tapped for police commissioner.他被任命为警务处长。

8 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

9 intensified   

v.（使）增强， （使）加剧( intensify的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Violence intensified during the night. 在夜间暴力活动加剧了。
• The drought has intensified. 旱情加剧了。 来自《简明英汉词典》

10 scenarios   

n.[意]情节；剧本；事态；脚本

参考例句：

• Further, graphite cores may be safer than non-graphite cores under some accident scenarios. 再者，根据一些事故解说，石墨堆芯可比非石墨堆芯更安全一些。 来自英汉非文学 - 环境法 - 环境法
• Again, scenarios should make it clear which modes are acceptable to users in various contexts. 同样，我们可以运用场景剧本来搞清楚在不同情境下哪些模式可被用户接受。 来自About Face 3交互设计精髓

11 extinction   

n.熄灭，消亡，消灭，灭绝，绝种

参考例句：

• The plant is now in danger of extinction.这种植物现在有绝种的危险。
• The island's way of life is doomed to extinction.这个岛上的生活方式注定要消失。

12 disappearance   

n.消失，消散，失踪

参考例句：

• He was hard put to it to explain her disappearance.他难以说明她为什么不见了。
• Her disappearance gave rise to the wildest rumours.她失踪一事引起了各种流言蜚语。

13 coastal   

adj.海岸的，沿海的，沿岸的

参考例句：

• The ocean waves are slowly eating away the coastal rocks.大海的波浪慢慢地侵蚀着岸边的岩石。
• This country will fortify the coastal areas.该国将加强沿海地区的防御。