It's known as "the roof of the world," four thousand seven hundred meters above sea level lies the Tibetan Plateau. Its glaciers are the source of many of Asia's most important rivers.
But the ice is melting. Scientists say if that continues at current levels, two-thirds of the plateau's glaciers will likely be gone by 2050, affecting up to 2 billion people in China, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Bhutan. Li Yan is from Greenpeace China.
"Glacial melting on the Tibetan plateau should be a climate change alarm bell for global heads of state," said Li Yan of Greenpeace China.
Heads of state and delegates from 196 countries are converging on Paris for the COP21 climate summit, which begins Monday. They'll be trying to reach a binding agreement to limit emissions of carbon dioxide, which scientists say are driving temperatures upward.
Their objective is to limit global warming to no more than 2 degrees Celsius above preindustrial levels by the end of this century. Smita Nakhooda of the Overseas Development Institute said that target is crucial.
"Without that," she said, "we will begin to feel extremely severe impacts of climate change, such as extreme weather events, droughts, flooding and other disruptions to our way of life."
Scientists say we are most likely already starting to feel some of the impact of climate change. 2015 has been the hottest year ever recorded.
There is evidence that warmer temperatures are making storms more intense.
At the Copenhagen summit in 2009, developed nations agreed to provide $100 billion of public and private financing to help developing countries adapt to climate change and develop greener technologies. Nakhooda said the debate has shifted since Copenhagen, and there is hope a deal can be reached.
"Several countries have offered to double their contributions of public finance, so that's all encouraging," she said. "The costs of clean energy deployment have plummeted in recent years, and they've plummeted the fastest in some developing countries."
Several events during the summit have been canceled following the terror attacks in Paris two weeks ago. France has deployed an extra 8,000 police officers on its borders.
Vocabulary
plummet:(价格、水平等)骤然下跌
dioxide:二氧化物
2017届高考英语阅读素材:年轻时一定要知道的15件事
2017届高考英语一轮总复习语法专题复习课件:13.定语从句
2017届高考英语阅读素材:请记住,你是与众不同的
2017届高考英语阅读素材:人生宝典:八句话人生
2017届高考英语阅读素材:甜蜜爱情的十大禁忌
2017届高考英语阅读素材:史上最经典的名人情书汇总
2017届高考英语阅读素材:穷理查年鉴 Poor Richard s Almanack
2017届高考英语阅读素材:男人的浪漫——永存于心(中英双文对照)
为解决游客语言障碍 日本推出奇葩便民标志
2017届高考英语阅读素材:情人节英语短信精选
2017届高考英语一轮总复习语法专题复习课件:14. 状语从句
2017届高考英语阅读素材:我最好的敌人
2017届高考英语一轮总复习语法专题复习课件:非谓语动词
2017届高考英语阅读素材:提升你的智力
2017届高考英语阅读素材:世界地图是怎么拼起来的?
2017届高考英语阅读素材:你相信事出皆有因吗?
国内英语资讯:China cracks down on wildlife, forest crimes
2017届高考英语阅读素材:徐志摩:《再别康桥》
2017届高考英语阅读素材:全世界最感人的家信!
2017届高考英语阅读素材:烛心 (中英对照)
2017届高考英语阅读素材:如何增强自己的意志力
2017届高考英语阅读素材:笑对生活
2017届高考英语阅读素材:生活贴士:5个简单方法,带给你平静的心情
2017届高考英语阅读素材:生活半对半 The 50-Percent Theory of Life
2017届高考英语阅读素材:生命中的十一种感动
2017届高考英语阅读素材:细嚼慢咽的五个雄辩理由
2017届高考英语阅读素材:一个母亲一生撒的8个谎言
2017届高考英语阅读素材:我们一直在学习什么
2017届高考英语阅读素材:女性必读:成为极品女人的十大要素
2017届高考英语阅读素材:勇敢生活:如何征服对生活的恐惧
不限 |
英语教案 |
英语课件 |
英语试题 |
不限 |
不限 |
上册 |
下册 |
不限 |