VOA常速英语2105--气候变化对健康的影响

气候变化对健康的影响

WASHINGTON— The impact of climate change is so great that it could undermine the last 50 years of gains in global health, according to the Lancet Commission report.

柳叶刀委员会的报告指出，气候变化的影响如此巨大，它能削弱过去50年来的全球卫生成绩。

Weather extremes made worse by climate change are potentially catastrophic and unacceptable, says Commission's project leader Nicolas Watts¹, who spoke² to VOA via Skype.

气候变化令恶劣天气越发严重，这可能是灾难性的，是不可接受的，委员会项目负责人尼古拉斯·沃特通过Skype接受了美国之音的采访。

“In terms of drought, we often see corresponding decreases in agricultural productivity, which then in turn has a profound impact on malnutrition³, particularly for children, and floods we often see a rise in the rates of infectious diseases, cholera⁴ and diarrheal diseases that happen as a result of a breakdown⁵ in sanitation⁶.”

“就干旱来说，它通常会导致农业产量的相应减少，然后会对营养不良产生深刻影响，尤其是对儿童。而洪灾通常会导致传染疾病、霍乱、腹泻患病率的增加，这是因为洪灾导致卫生设施的崩溃。”

Increasingly, it’s just hotter, which can be deadly. An extreme heatwave in 2003 left 70,000 people dead across Europe. "And those sorts of events are expected to increase in intensity⁷ and severity as time goes on."

而且气温在越来越热，这可能是致命的。2003年的极热天气导致整个欧洲有7万人死亡，“以后所有这些气候事件可能会越来越严重。”

Reducing emissions⁹ improves health

The World Health Organization warns that unless dramatic action is taken to reduce global warming emissions by 2030, approximately 250,000 people will die each year from the effects of climate change.

世卫组织警告称，除非在2030年之前采取有效行动来导致全球变暖的排放，否则每年将有大约25万人死于气候变化的影响。

Outdoor air pollution is linked to some three million deaths worldwide, 1.2 million in China alone. Watts says a shift from coal-fired power plants to renewable energy can greatly reduce that danger.

室外空气污染导致全世界大约300万人死亡，单单中国就有120万。沃特称燃煤发电厂转向可再生能源可以大大减少这种危险。

“We see immediate¹⁰ declines in hospital admissions and in health care costs, which reduces the burden of already struggling health budgets. But there are also benefits to be found outside of the energy sector¹¹, you can decrease the amount the reliance on cars and motor vehicles, and try to encourage active transport like cycling and walking, you reduce the carbon emission⁸ from that sector, but you also decrease the rates of diabetes¹² and obesity¹³.” he said.

“我们看到入院率和医疗成本很快就下降了，这就减轻了已经很艰难的医疗预算。但能源部门之外也能受益，可以减少对汽车和机动车的依赖，鼓励骑自行车和步行就可以减少运输业的碳排放，还能减少糖尿病和肥胖率。”

Politics aside, global climate treaty is about public health. Among its recommendations, the Commission supports a phase-out of coal power plants, expansion of renewable energy, investment in health systems and a commitment to a strong global climate treaty. Watts says public health is at he core of a new global aggrement.

该委员会提出了一些建议，其中包括逐步淘汰火电厂、扩大可再生能源、投资医疗系统，以及致力于更强有力的全球气候协议。沃特称公共健康是新的全球协议的核心。

"Most of what you want to do to respond to climate change is good for public health, and it is actually a much brighter future.”

“就气候变化而采取的行动对公共健康有益，会促成更美好的未来。”

 

Watts says health care professionals can be advocates in the battle against climate change, he says what is good for the planet is good for patient care.

沃特说，卫生专家们可以成为对付气候变化行动中的倡导者，他说，任何有利于地球的行动都对医疗有益。

1 watts   

（电力计量单位）瓦，瓦特( watt的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• My lamp uses 60 watts; my toaster uses 600 watts. 我的灯用60瓦，我的烤面包器用600瓦。
• My lamp uses 40 watts. 我的灯40瓦。

2 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

3 malnutrition   

n.营养不良

参考例句：

• In Africa, there are a lot of children suffering from severe malnutrition.在非洲有大批严重营养不良的孩子。
• It is a classic case of malnutrition. 这是营养不良的典型病例。

4 cholera   

n.霍乱

参考例句：

• The cholera outbreak has been contained.霍乱的发生已被控制住了。
• Cholera spread like wildfire through the camps.霍乱在营地里迅速传播。

5 breakdown   

n.垮，衰竭；损坏，故障，倒塌

参考例句：

• She suffered a nervous breakdown.她患神经衰弱。
• The plane had a breakdown in the air,but it was fortunately removed by the ace pilot.飞机在空中发生了故障，但幸运的是被王牌驾驶员排除了。

6 sanitation   

n.公共卫生，环境卫生，卫生设备

参考例句：

• The location is exceptionally poor,viewed from the sanitation point.从卫生角度来看，这个地段非常糟糕。
• Many illnesses are the result,f inadequate sanitation.许多疾病都来源于不健全的卫生设施。

7 intensity   

n.强烈，剧烈；强度；烈度

参考例句：

• I didn't realize the intensity of people's feelings on this issue.我没有意识到这一问题能引起群情激奋。
• The strike is growing in intensity.罢工日益加剧。

8 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。

9 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。

10 immediate   

adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的

参考例句：

• His immediate neighbours felt it their duty to call.他的近邻认为他们有责任去拜访。
• We declared ourselves for the immediate convocation of the meeting.我们主张立即召开这个会议。

11 sector   

n.部门，部分；防御地段，防区；扇形

参考例句：

• The export sector will aid the economic recovery. 出口产业将促进经济复苏。
• The enemy have attacked the British sector.敌人已进攻英国防区。

12 diabetes   

n.糖尿病

参考例句：

• In case of diabetes, physicians advise against the use of sugar.对于糖尿病患者，医生告诫他们不要吃糖。
• Diabetes is caused by a fault in the insulin production of the body.糖尿病是由体內胰岛素分泌失调引起的。

13 obesity   

n.肥胖，肥大

参考例句：

• One effect of overeating may be obesity.吃得过多能导致肥胖。
• Sugar and fat can more easily lead to obesity than some other foods.糖和脂肪比其他食物更容易导致肥胖。