Climate change will need to be tackled by governments worldwide, and nations are coming together for the first time in a single agreement on tackling climate change.
全球各国政府都需要解决气候变化问题，而各国在一项关于解决气候变化的单一协议中首次走到了一起。
But everyone has a carbon footprint. This is the amount of greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide – which contributes to global warming – released into the atmosphere by people’s actions.
但是每个人都有碳足迹。这就是人类活动释放到大气中的二氧化碳等温室气体的数量，这导致全球变暖。
This can be reduced in a number of ways. According to a recent report by a group of international scientists, transport is responsible for 34% of a household’s carbon footprint in high-income countries like the UK. The report calls for a major programme of investment in the rail and bus network, with lower ticket prices and investment in safer cycling.
这可以通过多种方式减少。根据一组国际科学家的最新报告，在英国等高收入国家，交通运输占家庭碳足迹的34％。该报告呼吁对铁路和公交网络进行一项重大投资计划，以降低票价并投资于更安全的骑行。
Is the fundamental problem human overpopulation?
人口过多是根本问题吗？
According to the United Nations, the current world population is about 7.7 billion and could reach 9.7 billion in 2050.
根据联合国的数据，目前世界人口约为77亿，到2050年可能达到97亿。
This population growth drives higher demand for food, greater energy consumption and more competition for resources. And it increases the production of the gases that cause global warming.
人口的增长推动了对食品的更高需求，更多的能源消耗以及对资源的更多竞争。而且它增加了导致全球变暖的气体的产量。
And a recent major study concluded that the world needs to stabilize its population.
最近的一项重大研究得出结论，世界需要稳定其人口。
The study has attracted quite a deal of controversy, but its authors say such action is needed if the world is to avoid what they call “a catastrophic threat” from climate change.
这项研究引起了很多争议，但是研究者说，如果世界要避免气候变化给他们带来“灾难性威胁”，就需要采取这种行动。
Is a plant-based diet one of the best steps you can take?
植物性饮食是您可以采取的最佳步骤之一吗？
It is estimated that 26% of global emissions come from food and more than half of this from animal products.
据估计，全球排放量的26％来自食物，其中一半以上来自动物产品。
This is because producing food from animals uses more resources than food from plants. Cows and sheep also produce methane (甲烷）- a greenhouse gas.
这是因为用动物生产食物比用植物生产食物消耗更多的资源。牛和羊也会产生甲烷——一种温室气体。
According to a 2019 report by UN experts, switching to a plant-based diet can help fight climate change.
根据联合国专家2019年的一份报告，转向以植物为主的饮食可以帮助应对气候变化。
And a University of Oxford study found that if everybody on Earth cut meat and dairy from their diet, there could be a 49% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions（排放） from food production.
牛津大学的一项研究发现，如果地球上的每个人都从饮食中削减肉类和奶制品，那么食品生产中的温室气体排放量将减少49％。
What can a small country, like the UK, do to exert （施加）pressure for change?
像英国这样的小国可以做什么来施加压力以促成变革呢？
On an individual level, consumers could decide to seek out “green” products and boycott （抵制）ones from more polluting parts of the world.
在个人层面上，消费者可以决定从世界上污染更严重的地区寻找“绿色”产品，并抵制产品。
There is also an opportunity for the UK to come up with innovative ideas.
英国还有一个提出创新想法的机会。
Why are we not capturing and using the greenhouse gases already in our atmosphere?
为什么我们不捕获和使用大气中已经存在的温室气体？
Carbon capture, to remove and store greenhouse gases, already happens naturally. All plants and trees take carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and groundwater.
碳捕获，即去除和储存温室气体，已经在自然条件下发生了。所有的植物和树木都从大气和地下水中吸收二氧化碳。
So, planting trees is seen as an important weapon in the fight against global warming.
因此，植树被视为抗击全球变暖的重要武器。
The UK government says it is committed to（致力于） planting 11 million trees by 2022.
英国政府表示，将致力于到2022年种植1100万棵树木。
Another approach, currently being offered by a company in Switzerland, is to pull carbon dioxide directly from the air. This gas can then be sold for other purposes, like being used to grow vegetables in hi-tech greenhouses.
瑞士一家公司目前提供的另一种方法是直接从空气中吸收二氧化碳。然后可以将这种气体出售用于其他目的，例如用于在高科技温室中种植蔬菜。
But schemes like these are, as yet, relatively few and small-scale.
但是，到目前为止，此类方案相对较少且规模较小。
那我们接下来, 将找出这篇文章有趣又有用的短语和句子！
Analysis – Page 1
1. Tackled = 处理
例句(illustrative sentences):
a) Firefighters tackled a big fire.
消防人员扑灭了大火。
b) I tried to tackle this problem, but it was so hard.
我试图解决这个问题，但这太难了。
2. Carbon footprint = 碳足迹
例句(illustrative sentences):
a) I’m trying to reduce my carbon footprint
我正在努力减少我的碳足迹。
b) Eating meat gives you a higher carbon footprint.
吃肉会使你的碳足迹更高。
3. Carbon dioxide = 二氧化碳
例句(illustrative sentences):
a) Plants absorb carbon dioxide.
植物吸收二氧化碳。
b) Humans breathe out carbon dioxide.
人类呼出二氧化碳。
4. Global warming = 全球变暖
例句(illustrative sentences):
a) Some people think global warming is the biggest threat to humans.
有些人认为全球变暖是对人类的最大威胁。
b) Global warming will affect us all.
全球变暖将影响我们所有人。
5. Atmosphere = 空气
例句(illustrative sentences):
a) The atmosphere is very humid.
大气非常潮湿。
b) Factories release toxic gas to the atmosphere.
工厂向大气释放有毒气体。
6. A number of ways = 多种方法
例句(illustrative sentences):
a) There are a number of ways of solving this problem.
有多种解决此问题的方法。
b) The number of ways to cook potatoes is infinite.
煮土豆的方法是无限的。
类似的短语(similar phrases)
= several ways = numerous ways
多种不一样的方法
7. United Nations = 联合国
例句(illustrative sentences):
a) This country is a member of the United Nations.
该国家是联合国的会员国。
b) The United Nations are headquartered in New York.
联合国总部设在纽约。
8. Drives higher demand = 推动更高的需求
例句(illustrative sentences):
a) A growing population drives higher demand for food.
人口的增长推动了对食物的需求。
b) Modern life drives higher demand for new technology.
现代生活推动了对新科技的更高需求。
9. Stabilize = 稳定
例句(illustrative sentences):
a) House prices have stabilized recently.
最近房价稳定。
b) This medicine will help stabilize my mood swings.
这种药将有助于稳定我的情绪波动。
10. A deal of controversy = 很多争议
例句(illustrative sentences):
a) There is a good deal of controversy over this book.
关于这本书有很多争议。
b) We have quite a deal of controversy in our business proposal.
我们的业务建议中存在很多争议。
11. Catastrophic threat = 灾难性事件
例句(illustrative sentences):
a) Floods are a catastrophic event for people’s lives.
洪水是人们生命中的灾难性事件。
b) Earthquakes are catastrophic events in this city.
地震是该城市的灾难性事件。
12. Plant-based diet =植物性饮食
例句(illustrative sentences):
a) I am on a plant-based diet to lose weight.
我想以植物性饮食来减肥。
b) A plant-based diet has many health benefits.
植物性饮食具有许多健康益处。
13. Global emissions = 全球排放量
例句(illustrative sentences):
a) Most countries are trying to reduce global emissions.
大多数国家都在努力减少全球排放量。
b) Global emissions have risen year-on-year.
全球排放量同比增长。
14. Individual level = 在个人层面上
例句(illustrative sentences):
a) People can save water on an individual level.
人们可以在个人层面上来节约用水。
b) On an individual level, people should recycle more to help the environment.
在个人层面上，人们应该更多地回收利用废物以保护环境。
15. Green products = 环保产品
例句(illustrative sentences):
a) Green products are normally more expensive.
环保产品通常更贵。
b) I am trying to buy more green products.
我正在尝试购买更环保的产品。
16. Boycott = 抵制
例句(illustrative sentences):
a) Let’s boycott this shop!
让我们抵制这家商店！
b) Lots of people boycotted the concert.
很多人抵制音乐会。