2022年11月05日 VOA慢速英语：官员们希望新技术能够减少变暖的气体

 

Scientists say the Earth's temperature has risen by about 1.1 degrees Celsius since the modern industrial period began.
科学家说，自现代工业时代开始以来，地球的温度已经上升了约 1.1 摄氏度。
 
And they warn that the effects of rising temperatures will get worse with every increase of one tenth of a degree.
他们警告说，气温每升高十分之一度，气温上升的影响就会变得更糟。
 
Many scientists and government officials say that it is important to not burn more fossil fuels such as coal, oil and natural gas. Such fuels release carbon dioxide. Many scientists blame rising temperatures on carbon dioxide trapping heat in the Earth's atmosphere.
许多科学家和政府官员表示，重要的是不要燃烧更多的化石燃料，如煤炭、石油和天然气。这种燃料会释放二氧化碳。许多科学家将温度升高归咎于二氧化碳在地球大气中捕获热量。
 
In a 2021 report, the Paris-based International Energy Agency (IEA) said there can be no new investments in fossil fuels if officials want to reach their temperature goal.
总部位于巴黎的国际能源署 (IEA) 在 2021 年的一份报告中表示，如果官员们想要达到他们的温度目标，就不能对化石燃料进行新的投资。
 
The most recent report by the United Nations' Intergovernmental Panel for Climate Change called for "immediate and deep" cuts to fossil fuels. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres spoke about those goals at the 2021 climate conference in Glasgow, Scotland, known as COP26. He said, "Our addiction to fossil fuels is pushing humanity to the brink."
联合国政府间气候变化专门委员会的最新报告呼吁“立即和深度”削减化石燃料。联合国秘书长安东尼奥·古特雷斯在苏格兰格拉斯哥举行的 2021 年气候会议（即 COP26）上谈到了这些目标。他说，“我们对化石燃料的依赖正将人类推向边缘。”
 
Addiction is a strong and harmful need to do something or have something.
成瘾是做某事或拥有某事的强烈而有害的需要。
 
The world depends on fossil fuels for much of its electricity, heating and transportation. Fossil fuels are also important for agriculture and industry. But officials say that cleaner, renewable energy sources — such as solar and wind energy — will replace much of that demand.
世界的大部分电力、供暖和运输都依赖化石燃料。化石燃料对农业和工业也很重要。但官员们表示，太阳能和风能等更清洁的可再生能源将取代大部分需求。
 
Observers say the cost of renewable energy is decreasing. Also, more renewable energy is being produced in sustainable ways. However, the total amount of energy produced has also gone up.
观察家说，可再生能源的成本正在下降。此外，更多的可再生能源正在以可持续的方式生产。然而，产生的能量总量也增加了。
 
Elizabeth Robinson is with the Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment. She said that many places are using renewable energy, "but emissions are continuing to rise."
伊丽莎白罗宾逊在格兰瑟姆气候变化与环境研究所工作。她说，很多地方都在使用可再生能源，“但排放量还在继续上升。”
 
She added, "We also need to see overall global emissions falling, and at the moment global emissions from fossil fuels are still increasing."
她补充说：“我们还需要看到全球总体排放量下降，而目前全球化石燃料排放量仍在增加。”
 
While renewable energy works for electricity production, other industries — such as cement-making, steel and shipping — depend on fossil fuels.
虽然可再生能源可用于电力生产，但水泥制造、钢铁和航运等其他行业则依赖化石燃料。
 
That is why experts are studying technologies that might be used in some industries. Some have suggested using "green fuels," such as ones made out of plant materials or natural waste, known as biofuels.
这就是为什么专家们正在研究可能用于某些行业的技术。一些人建议使用“绿色燃料”，例如由植物材料或天然废物制成的燃料，即生物燃料。
 
Two newer technologies being explored include carbon capture, which takes carbon dioxide out of the air, and green hydrogen, which uses renewable energy to make hydrogen. But, these technologies are costly and untested on a large scale.
正在探索的两项新技术包括碳捕获（从空气中吸收二氧化碳）和绿色氢（使用可再生能源制造氢气）。但是，这些技术成本高昂且未经大规模测试。
 
Some scientists say methane, another carbon gas that traps heat, must be greatly reduced. Methane is about 25 times more effective at trapping heat than carbon dioxide. Once released, scientists estimate it stays in the atmosphere for about 12 years.
一些科学家说甲烷，另一种捕获热量的碳气体，必须大大减少。甲烷吸收热量的效率大约是二氧化碳的 25 倍。一旦释放，科学家估计它会在大气中停留大约 12 年。
 
Many countries at the COP26 meeting in Glasgow last year promised to stop methane leaks from oil wells and gas pipelines. Scientists say such methane reductions would have immediate effects on slowing the warming of the atmosphere.
去年在格拉斯哥举行的 COP26 会议上，许多国家承诺阻止油井和天然气管道的甲烷泄漏。科学家们说，这样的甲烷减少将对减缓大气变暖产生直接影响。
 
Robinson said there are two areas in which action could slow the warming of the atmosphere: stopping deforestation and reducing the eating of animals. Forests naturally take in carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. When forests are cut for agriculture, especially for animals that need large amounts of land, more greenhouse gases are released into the air.
罗宾逊说，有两个方面的行动可以减缓大气变暖：停止森林砍伐和减少对动物的食用。森林自然地从大气中吸收二氧化碳。当为了农业而砍伐森林时，特别是对于需要大量土地的动物，更多的温室气体会释放到空气中。
 
Robinson added that these ideas represent "a very controversial area." But, she added, "in most higher income countries, most people eat far more meat than they need to."
罗宾逊补充说，这些想法代表了“一个非常有争议的领域”。但是，她补充说，“在大多数高收入国家，大多数人吃的肉比他们需要的多得多。”