《中英對照讀新聞》Urgent climate action will cut economic fallout 儘快因應氣候變遷有助減緩經濟衝擊

◎胡立宗

A British report on the economic costs of climate changes shows the longer the world waits to tackle global warming, the greater the bill will be, Britain's environment minister said.

英國環境大臣表示，英國一份針對氣候變遷造成經濟損失的報告顯示，全世界越慢因應全球暖化，所造成的損失越嚴重。

In the report by chief British government economist Nicholas Stern, a 27-page summary said ignoring climate change could lead to economic upheaval on the scale of the 1930s Depression.

這份由英國政府首席經濟專家史登撰寫的報告中，長達27頁的總結指出，置氣候變遷於不顧，將導致類似1930年代經濟大蕭條的經濟情勢動盪。

The 700-page report said that no matter what is done now, the chance to keep greenhouse gases at a level which scientists say should avoid the worst effects of climate change "is already almost out of reach".

這份700頁報告指出，不論現在再做些什麼，也「幾乎已經沒有機會」將溫室氣體控制在科學家認為還能避免氣候變遷出現最嚴重後果的程度內。

But it said the benefits of determined worldwide steps to tackle climate change would greatly outweigh the costs, underlining the need for urgent action to combat global warming.

但報告也強調，若全世界能堅定的採取行動對抗氣候變遷，所能得到的好處將遠遠大於花費的成本，因此各國應儘快起而行對抗全球暖化。

The report said the world does not have to choose between tackling climate change and economic growth, contradicting U.S. President George W. Bush who pulled out of the Kyoto Protocol against global warming in part because he said it hit jobs.

報告指出，對抗氣候變遷和維持經濟成長並非相互矛盾、不能並行，這形同駁斥美國總統布希說法，布希撤簽對抗全球暖化的「京都議定書」，部分原因在於他說這會嚴重減少工作機會。

新聞辭典

fallout：原指原爆或核爆後產生的輻射落塵，後引申為事件（壞的）餘波、後續發展。the fallout of the scandal（醜聞的後續效應）。

depression：名詞，沮喪、不景氣、低氣壓。字首大寫的Depression，專指1930年代的經濟大蕭條。

out of reach：在…可及範圍外。Dream is still out of reach.（夢想仍遙不可及）