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 Watts 1, who spoke 2 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 malnutrition 3, particularly for children, and floods we often see a rise in the rates of infectious diseases, cholera 4 and diarrheal diseases that happen as a result of a breakdown 5 in sanitation 6.”

“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 intensity 7 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 emissions 9 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 immediate 10 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 sector 11, 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 emission 8 from that sector, but you also decrease the rates of diabetes 12 and obesity 13.” 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。