哪种钻石对环境更有利?

哪种钻石对环境更有利?

Which kind of diamond is better for the environment and the world we live in: a diamond from a traditional mine or one made in a laboratory?

哪种钻石对我们生活的环境和世界更好，是传统矿场的钻石还是实验室制造的钻石呢?

Some recent reports suggest the answer may not be so clear. At the very least, these reports provide evidence of tensions between two different sectors of the diamond industry.

最近的一些报道表明答案并不明确，至少，这些报告证明了钻石业两个不同部门之间的紧张关系。

Lab-grown diamond companies say they are more ethical and cause less harm to Earth’s environment.

人造钻石公司说，他们更符合道德，对地球环境带来的伤害更少。

The traditional diamond sector notes that its businesses help the communities where they operate mines. It says they provide jobs, help build roads and other infrastructure and make investments in conservation.

传统钻石公司则指出，他们的工作帮助了矿区的居民。他们提供了就业机会，帮忙修路和修建其他设施，而且为保护区投资。

Some companies, such as De Beers, work on both sides. De Beers sells natural and man-made diamonds.

一些公司两者兼而有之，比如戴比尔斯，天然钻石和人造钻石均有销售。

In the United States, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) investigates reports of deceptive, or misleading, advertising. In April, the commission sent warning letters to eight lab-grown diamond companies.

在美国，联邦商务委员会调查了一些欺诈性的、误导性的、广告性的报道。四月，委员会向8家人造钻石公司发了警告信。

One of the FTC’s concerns was the use of the word ‘eco-friendly,’ and similar terms, to describe diamonds made in a laboratory. The lab-grown process requires very high temperatures and uses a lot of energy.

联邦商务委员会的关注点之一是使用“环境友好”一词，或者一些类似的术语去描述人造钻石。实验室造钻石的过程需要非常高的温度，还要使用大量燃料。

Trucost is a company that estimates the costs of using natural resources.Asked by the Diamond Producers Association to study the issue, Trucost found the carbon intensity of natural diamonds was lower than lab-grown diamonds.

Trucost是一家核算自然资源使用成本的公司，被钻石生产商协会要求调查这一问题，Trucost发现天然钻石释放的碳浓度低于人造钻石。

The Trucost report did note that diamond miners should reduce their effect on the environment by using more renewable energy, such as wind power and sunlight.

Trucost公司的报告着重指出，钻石矿商应该使用更多的可再生资源，例如风能和太阳能，来降低对环境的影响。

The Reuters news agency reported that the International Grown Diamond Association did not immediately respond to requests for comments about the story.

路透社报道说，国际钻石协会没有立即对有关此事发表评论的请求做出回应。

I'm Susan Shand.

苏珊·尚德报道。

Words in This Story

sector – n. an area or part that is different from others

ethical – adj. following accepted rules of behavior: morally right and good

conservation - n. the careful use of natural resources (such as trees and oil) to prevent them from being lost or wasted

resource – n. materials required for a person or organization to operate normally

renewable – adj. replaced by natural processes; able to be replaced by nature