07 环境和生物-2022-2023 高中高三英语阅读理解专项训练(含答案)-.docxVIP

07环境和生物

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TheParisclimateagreementfinalisedinDecemberlastyearindicatedaneweraforclimateaction.Forthefirsttime,theworld’snationsagreedtokeepglobalwarmingwellbelow2℃.

Thisisvitalforclimate-vulnerablenations.Fewerthan4%ofcountriesareresponsibleformorethanhalfoftheworld’sgreenhousegasemissions.InastudypublishedinNatureScientificReports,werevealjusthowdeepthisinjusticeruns.

DevelopednationssuchasAustralia,theUnitedStates,Canada,andEuropeancountriesareessentiallyclimate“free-riders”:causingthemajorityoftheproblemsthroughhighgreenhousegasemissions,whilepayingfewofthecostssuchasclimatechangesimpactonfoodandwater.Inotherwords,afewcountriesarebenefitingenormouslyfromtheconsumptionoffossilfuels,whileatthesametimecontributingdisproportionatelytotheglobalburdenofclimatechange.

Ontheotherhand,therearemany“forcedriders”,whoaresufferingfromtheclimatechangeimpactsdespitehavingscarcelycontributedtotheproblem.Manyoftheworld’smostclimate-vulnerablecountries,themajorityofwhichareAfricanorsmallislandstates,produceaverysmallquantityofemissions.Thisismuchlikeanon-smokergettingcancerfromsecond-handsmoke,whiletheheavysmokerisfortunateenoughtosmokeingoodhealth.

TheParisagreementhasbeenwidelyconsideredasapositivestepforwardinaddressingclimatechangeforall,althoughthedetailsonaddressing“climatejustice”canbebestdescribedasincomplete.

Thegoalofkeepingglobaltemperaturerise“wellbelow”2℃deservestobepraisedbuttheemissionsreductionpromisessubmittedbycountriesleadinguptotheParistalksareveryunlikelytodeliveronthis.

Morethan$100billioninfundinghasbeenputonthetableforsupportingdevelopingnationstoreduceemissions.However,theagreementspecifiesthatthereisnoformaldistinctionbetweendevelopedanddevelopingnati