2018.8.1 Earth’s resources consumed in ever greater destructive volumes
Earth's resources consumed in ever greater destructive volumes
地球资源正以前所未有的毁灭性规模被消耗
Humanity is devouring our planet’s resources in increasingly destructive volumes, according to a new study that reveals we have consumed a year’s worth of carbon, food, water, fibre, land and timber in a record 212 days.
人类正在以日益增长的毁灭性规模吞噬着我们星球上的资源，该结论来自一项新研究，它揭示了我们在 212 天之内消耗了一年的碳、食物、水、纤维、土地和木材，而该天数已破纪录。
As a result, the Earth Overshoot Day—which marks the point at which consumption exceeds the capacity of nature to regenerate—has moved forward two days to 1 August, the earliest date ever recorded.
由此，生态超载日（该日标志对大自然的消耗超过了其可再生能力）提早两天到来，到了 8 月 1 日，是有记录以来最早的一天。
To maintain our current appetite for resources, we would need the equivalent of 1.7 Earths, according to Global Footprint Network, an international research organisation that makes an annual assessment of how far humankind is falling into ecological debt.
全球足迹网络是一个国际研究组织，每年评估人类陷入生态负债的程度，其数据表明：若要维持人类目前对资源的需求，我们将需要 1.7 个地球。
The overshoot began in the 1970s, when rising populations and increasing average demands pushed consumption beyond a sustainable level. Since then, the day at which humanity has busted its annual planetary budget has moved forward.
这样的负债始于 20 世纪 70 年代。彼时，人口和平均需求的增长促使全球消耗量超出了可持续发展的限度。从那以后，人类每年超额打破地球资源预算的日期逐渐提前。
Our current economies are running a Ponzi scheme with our planet, according to Mathis Wackernagel, chief executive and co-founder of Global Footprint Network.
据全球足迹网络的执行长官兼联合创始人马西斯·瓦克纳格尔说，我们当前的经济体正在针对地球策划一个庞氏骗局。
“We are borrowing the Earth’s future resources to operate our economies in the present. Like any Ponzi scheme, this works for some time. But as nations, companies, or households dig themselves deeper and deeper into debt, they eventually fall apart.”
“我们正在借用地球未来的资源来运行我们当前的经济。就像任何庞氏骗局一样，（这种方法）在一段时间内行得通。但随着国家、公司或家庭越来越深地陷入债务，它们最终会分崩离析。”
The situation is reversible. Research by the group indicates political action is far more effective than individual choices. It notes, for example, efficiency improvements in building and industry could make a difference of three weeks, and a 50% reduction of the carbon component of the footprint would give an extra three months of breathing space.
这种情况是可扭转的。该组织的研究表明，政府作为远比个人选择更有效。例如，研究指出，建筑和工业效率的提高可能会使生态超载日推迟三周到来，而减少生态足迹中 50%的碳含量将增加三个月的喘息空间。
————— 文章来源 / 卫报
重点词汇
destructive/dɪˈstrʌktɪv/
adj. 破坏性的
volume/ˈvɑːljuːm/
n. 数量
devour/dɪˈvaʊər/
v. 狼吞虎咽；吞噬
e.g.
He devoured half of his burger in one bite.
His eyes devoured her beauty.
timber/ˈtɪmbər/
n. 木材
overshoot/ˌoʊvərˈʃuːt/
n. 超过（预定地点）
e.g.
The plane overshot the runway. (v.)
regenerate/rɪˈdʒenəreɪt/
v. （使）再生
e.g.
A lizard can regenerate its tail.
appetite/ˈæpɪtaɪt/
n. 食欲；欲望
e.g.
Bon Appétit (French）
Have a good appetite.
equivalent/ɪˈkwɪvələnt/
n. 等同的（事物）
footprint/ˈfʊtprɪnt/
n. 足迹；覆盖地区；人类活动对环境的影响
e.g.
the Ecological Footprint
carbon footprint
bust/bʌst/
v. 打破
e.g.
I bust his computer.
planetary/ˈplænəteri/
adj. 行星的
dig/dɪɡ/
v. 挖
e.g.
dig oneself into a hole
reversible/rɪˈvɜːrsəbl/
adj. 可逆的
note/noʊt/
v. 谈到；论及
fall into
陷入
e.g.
The building fell into disuse.
Ponzi scheme
庞氏骗局
fall apart
瓦解；崩溃
e.g.
Their marriage fell apart.
breathing space
休整时期
e.g.
I want a little breathing space between jobs.
拓展内容
dig 的口语表达
引起别人注意：dig sb. in the ribs （手肘戳别人肋骨）
表达喜爱：I really dig the shoes! （我超爱那双鞋！）
表达理解：You dig my meaning? （你懂我意思了吗？）
表示开始吃东西：The food's getting cold—dig in!（饭都快冷了，快开吃吧！）
网友评论