For example, many underwater coral reefs, habitat to a multitude of plant and fish species, are dying out due mostly to the higher ocean temperatures. Some species, both on land and in the sea, are migrating to climates where they have a better chance of survival. On the other hand, some species thrive with the increase in temperatures. However, this is not always to our benefit. For example, warmer weather means more mosquitoes, rodents and other disease carrying creatures.
例如,海底的许多珊瑚礁是大量植物和鱼类的栖息地,它们正在逐渐绝迹,海洋温度的升高正是其主要原因。一些物种,既有陆地上的也有海洋中的,正向气候更适宜生存的地方迁徙。另一方面些物种随着温度的升高而大肆繁殖。然而,这对我们并不总是有益的。例如,天气越热,蚊子、啮齿动物和其他传播疾病的生物就越多。
We, especially people in the industrialized countries, have for too long looked upon the natural world as our playground, there for our benefit alone. We have massively exploited nature, taking what we need and what we want without much thought to the consequences or to our responsibility to nourish and replenish nature.
我们,尤其是生活在工业化国家的人们,长期以来一直把自然界看作我们的游乐场,其存在只是为了满足我们的需求。我们大规模地开发大自然,获取我们所需的和我们想要的东西,毫不考虑后果,也未承担照料和恢复大自然的责任。
In the end, we are all deeply affected by these vast changes in nature. We share one planet; we share one atmosphere. Greenhouse gases emitted in the United States will directly affect China, and greenhouse gases emitted in China will affect Africa. Melting ice in the Arctic will affect coastal cities the world over. Greenhouse gases can be the stimulus to bringing humankind together for the first time in the history of our species, or, if we do not meet the challenge, it can make life as we know it impossible.
结果,我们都深受自然界这些巨大变化的影响。我们同住一个星球,我们共享一种空气。美国排放的温室气体将直接影响中国,中国排放的温室气体将会影响非洲。北极的冰川融化将会影响世界各地的沿海城市。温室气体能够成为使我们团结起来的契机,实现人类历史上的首次同心协力。而如果我们不迎接这种挑战,它将会彻底使我们目前的生活变成泡影。