2012职称英语理工A押题（第十一篇航99论坛注释版）

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2012职称英语理工A押题
第十一篇   Climate Change Poses Major Risks for Unprepared Cities

*第十一篇Climate Change Poses Major Risks for Unprepared Cities

气候变化给不备城市带来重大风险（新增 理A第二重点）

    A new examination of urban policies has been  carried out (执行) recently by Patricia Romero Lankao．She is a sociologist specializing（专门从事）in climate change and  urban(城市的) development．She warns that many of the world’s fast-growing urban areas，especially in developing countries．will likely suffer from the impacts（影响） of changing climate．Her work also concludes that most cities are failing to  reduce  emissions(排放) of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases．These  gases are known to affect(影响) the atmosphere．” Climate change is a deeply local issue（问题） and poses（带来）profound（严重的） threats to the growing cities of the world,” says Romero Lankao. ”But too few cities are developing effective（有效的）strategies(策略) to protect their residents."

    Cities are  major sources of greenhouse gases．And urban populations are likely to be among those most severely affected by future climate change. Lankao’s findings  highlight(强调) ways in which
city-residents are particularly vulnerable(易受伤害的), and suggest policy interventions(干预) that could offer immediate（短期的） and longer-term  benefits(利益)．

    The locations and dense construction patterns of cities often place(置于) their populations at greater risk for natural disasters.Potential(潜在的)threatsassociated(与…有关) with climate include storm surges(风暴潮) and prolonged(延长的) hot weather. Storm surges can flood(湮没) coastal areas and prolonged hot weather can heat heavily  paved cities more than surrounding areas．The impacts(影响) of such natural events can be more serious in an urban environment．For example，a prolonged heat wave can increase existing levels of air pollution，causing  widespread health problems．Poorer neighborhoods that  may lack basic facilities such as drinking water or a dependable network of roads，are especially vulnerable to natural disasters．Many residents in poorer countries live in substandard(不合要求的) housing withtout access to reliable(可靠的) drinking water，roads and basic services(设施).

     Local governments,  therefore(因此),should take measures(采取措施) to protect their residents.” Unfortunately，they tend to move towards rhetoric  rather than(而不是) meaningful responses,  Romero Lankao writes, ” They don’t impose(执行) construction standards(标准) that could reduce heating and air conditioning(空调) needs. They don't emphasize mass transit and reduce automobile use. In fact, many local  governments  are taking(采取)  a hands-off(不插手)  approach(政策).” Thus, she urges(催促) them to change their idle(无效的)policies and to take strong steps(步骤) to prevent(预防) the harmful effects of climate change on cities.