2007年VOA标准英语-Leading Scientist Says Climate Change Increases

By Lisa Schlein
Geneva
05 July 2007

A leading climate change scientist says the warming of the planet would have a devastating¹ impact on the poor and the hungry. He urges the United Nations to make greater efforts to help the poor, the hungry, and malnourished adapt to the realities of climate change and its difficulties. Lisa Schlein reports for VOA from Geneva.

Rajendra Pachauri

The chairman of the U.N.'s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, Rajendra Pachauri, says the effects of climate change will be mainly felt in the areas of health and agriculture. He says it is the poor who would suffer most from the change.

He says heat waves in different parts of the world are making people ill and causing many deaths. He says the situation is particularly bad in poor countries that do not have the infrastructure² or wherewithal to protect people from extreme heat.

Speaking of the agricultural effects of climate change, Pachauri says two-thirds of the world lives in rural areas and the majority of these people are in developing countries. He says a great many are dependent on rain-fed agriculture.

Pachauri says climate change would lead to an increase in precipitation in temperate³ areas, but a decrease in tropical and sub-tropical areas, where most of the people on Earth live. Those who depend on agriculture for their livelihoods⁴, he says, would be adversely⁵ affected⁶ by the decrease.

"At the global level, with the decline in agricultural productivity, in the largest countries of the world or the most populous⁷ countries of the world, we will find that food stocks will diminish," Pachauri said. "And, as a matter of fact, that has already started happening. The result of that will be an increase in food prices. Now, that in turn, hits the poorest of the poor very badly."

Pachauri says Africa is particularly vulnerable to decreases in rainfall. He says many regions of the continent are already suffering from an enormous scarcity⁸ of water.

"There would be the problem of hunger and undernourishment, simply because agricultural yields will go down, are going down," he said. "And, with food prices likely to go up, they would just not be in a position to import the quantities that would be required for sustenance⁹."

Climate scientist Pachauri says farmers suffering hard times will have to adopt measures such as the more efficient use of water resources. He says new strains of crops that can withstand higher temperatures and lower quantities of water will have to be developed.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change projects sea levels will rise from 18 to 59 centimeters by the end of the century.  It says small island states in the so-called Mega Deltas in Asia - low-lying areas in Asia that are vulnerable to heavy flooding - will be among the most threatened

1 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。

2 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。

3 temperate   

adj.温和的，温带的，自我克制的，不过分的

参考例句：

• Asia extends across the frigid,temperate and tropical zones.亚洲地跨寒、温、热三带。
• Great Britain has a temperate climate.英国气候温和。

4 livelihoods   

生计，谋生之道( livelihood的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• First came the earliest individualistic pioneers who depended on hunting and fishing for their livelihoods. 走在最前面的是早期的个人主义先驱者，他们靠狩猎捕鱼为生。 来自英汉非文学 - 政府文件
• With little influence over policies, their traditional livelihoods are threatened. 因为马赛族人对政策的影响力太小，他们的传统生计受到了威胁。

5 adversely   

ad.有害地

参考例句：

• We commented adversely upon the imbecility of that message of telegraphic style. 我们对着这条电报式的愚蠢的留言发泄了一通不满。
• Widely fluctuating exchange rates may adversely affect international trade. 浮动幅度很大的汇率可能会对国际贸易产生有害的影响。

6 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。

7 populous   

adj.人口稠密的，人口众多的

参考例句：

• London is the most populous area of Britain.伦敦是英国人口最稠密的地区。
• China is the most populous developing country in the world.中国是世界上人口最多的发展中国家。

8 scarcity   

n.缺乏，不足，萧条

参考例句：

• The scarcity of skilled workers is worrying the government.熟练工人的缺乏困扰着政府。
• The scarcity of fruit was caused by the drought.水果供不应求是由于干旱造成的。

9 sustenance   

n.食物，粮食；生活资料；生计

参考例句：

• We derive our sustenance from the land.我们从土地获取食物。
• The urban homeless are often in desperate need of sustenance.城市里无家可归的人极其需要食物来维持生命。