时间:2019-01-12 作者:英语课 分类:2006年VOA标准英语(十二月)


英语课

By Lisa Schlein
Geneva
19 December 2006


The Global Climate Observing System, an organization sponsored by the World Meteorological Organization, is launching an initiative to provide vital climate information for development needs in Africa. Lisa Schlein reports for VOA from Geneva.






World Meteorological Organization (WMO)


World Meteorological Organization (WMO)



The Global Climate Observing System says widespread poverty makes Africa particularly vulnerable to climate change. An official with the organization, William Westermeyer, says most natural disasters that occur in Africa are related to weather, climate and water.


"African countries and people are subject to severe drought, flooding, food shortages and disease. And, most of these natural disasters are related to climate. Africa is also lagging [behind] the rest of the world in terms of development. So, a key aim is to achieve the Millennium 1 Development Goals and to improve the quality of life for millions of Africans. Climate change and development are clearly linked," he said.


The U.N.-sponsored Millennium Development Goals aim to cut worldwide poverty in half by 2015. Africa is far behind in reaching that target. The new strategy plans to provide vital climate information to countries in Africa. This will help them better manage the crises, such as severe drought and flooding, that are likely to occur because of climate change.


For instance, Westermeyer says farmers who are aware a drought is predicted will be better able to cope. They will know when to plant their crop. They will know what kind of crop would be best suited for dry weather. He says advance information would also help lessen 2 the impact of some diseases. "With regard to health, malaria 3 is a very big thing. And, it turns out with better climate information, particularly knowing about things like the onset 4 of a new El Nino for example, you can predict where malaria outbreaks are likely to occur several months in advance. With better information, that can help you prepare those areas to avoid the worst impacts," he said.


Westermeyer says the strengthened monitoring system will also help governments make better climate-related decisions and reduce risks. He says the 10-year program, which will be African-led, will cost around $200 million.  He says it is supported by the African Union and the U.N. Economic Commission for Africa.



n.一千年,千禧年;太平盛世
  • The whole world was counting down to the new millennium.全世界都在倒计时迎接新千年的到来。
  • We waited as the clock ticked away the last few seconds of the old millennium.我们静候着时钟滴答走过千年的最后几秒钟。
vt.减少,减轻;缩小
  • Regular exercise can help to lessen the pain.经常运动有助于减轻痛感。
  • They've made great effort to lessen the noise of planes.他们尽力减小飞机的噪音。
n.疟疾
  • He had frequent attacks of malaria.他常患疟疾。
  • Malaria is a kind of serious malady.疟疾是一种严重的疾病。
n.进攻,袭击,开始,突然开始
  • The drug must be taken from the onset of the infection.这种药必须在感染的最初期就开始服用。
  • Our troops withstood the onset of the enemy.我们的部队抵挡住了敌人的进攻。
学英语单词
a carreira
acid attack
air-glass reflection
aldosterone deficiency
amaxophobia
amount carried over
asynchronous logic
automatic meter reading system
bankrupt
barter agreement
battery ore
be weak on
bishopess
burnishing surface
caryophyllenol
CHBHA
civil-war
CM8222
Cobury bread
cognitive limits
coitus int.erruptus
common platform
decimal scale
diphosphorus
disintegration chain
displacement ferroelectrics
drum polletizing
dtb
ectopia lentis
eissero
enter into conversation with
F.I.A.S.
fecundly
fixed sash
fizzlings
freelore
fuster
gelisolifluction
ground-basses
Harrison 2, Benjamin
hole reaming
hop residue
Hornstorf
Hydrangea shaochingii
in-statest
indirect-measurement
inner reflector
interleukine
intra-atomic energy
Irish Republic
Jaggarnat
lactosylceramides
laminae spiralis secundaria
Lexus lane
Lindera limprichtii
lineo-normal distribution
Macht metal
mendication
mizuage
monodactyl
Morellin
multilepis
narcisms
nasal splint
Nemipterus
noelani
noiseuses
non-stimulated
not busy interrupt
oil pressure unit
Opie paradox
orthomitosis
pack-up kits
perspective projection
preheating process
quarternary alloy
radio resource control
refreshable
rockfill breakwater
scavenge trunk
set much by someone
shared main storage
sheafer
single loop servomechanism
Soranus
stylistic component
Syväri
Szarvas
tectomorphic texture
tettigoniid
thiodan
Thymus nervulosus
totalizing
toxicological detection
transport mean-free path
unflappability
unven
vibrating-reed amplifier
vinous tincture
Västernorrlands Län
well-behaved net
wood spurge