Asia and the Pacific (OVERVIEW GEO-2000)

Some statistics...
1．There is great pressure on land resources in the region in which some 60 per cent of the world population depends on 30 per cent of its land area.
2．About one million hectares of Indonesia's national forests have been destroyed by fires that burned for several months from September 1997. More than 3 million hectares of Mongolian forests were burnt in 1996.
3． Expansion of coastal settlements, industrial growth and increased fishing activities have placed enormous and uncontrolled pressures on coastal ecosystems and have degraded marine and coastal resources.
4．Demand for primary energy in Asia is expected to double every 12 years while the world average is every 28 years.

　　（GEO-global enviroment outlook） Asia and the Pacific is facing serious environmental challenges. High population densities are putting enormous stress on the environment. Continued rapid economic growth and industrialization are likely to cause further environmental damage, with the region becoming more degraded, less forested, more polluted and less ecologically diverse in the future.
　　Water supply is a serious problem. Already at least one in three Asians has no access[1] to safe drinking water and freshwater will be the major limiting factor to producing more food in the future. Energy demand is rising faster than in any other part of the world. The proportion[2] of people living in urban centres is rising rapidly, and is focused on a few urban centres. Asia's particular style of urbanization towards megacities is likely to increase environmental and social stresses.
　　Widespread concern over pollution and natural resources has led to legislation to curb emissions and conserve natural resources. Economic policies are beginning to be used for environmental protection and the promotion of resource efficiency. Pollution fines are common and deposit-refund schemes are being promoted to encourage reuse[3] and recyclings.
　　One of the greatest challenges is to promote liberal trade yet maintain and strengthen the protection of the environment and natural resources. Some governments are now taking action to reconcile trade and environmental interests.

亚太地区2000年环境状况展望

数字统计......

1． 全世界60%的人口生活在占世界陆地面积30%的亚太地区，因而这片陆地承受着巨大的压力。
2． 从1997年9月开始的森林大火持续了数月，吞噬了一百万公顷的印度尼西亚国家森林资源。1996年蒙古约有3百万公顷森林被火焰吞没。
3． 不断扩大的沿海陆地面积，飞速发展的工业以及日趋频繁的捕鱼活动都使沿海生态系统承受了巨大压力，海洋资源也因此受到严重破坏。
4． 全世界能源需求平均28年增长一倍，而亚洲却是每12年就增长一倍。

　　（GEO—全球环境状况展望） 亚太地区面临严重的环境危机。高密度的人口使环境难堪重荷。持续快速发展的经济和工业化很可能引起环境状况的进一步恶化：不久的将来土地不断退化，森林面积日益减少，污染情况日趋严重，生态物种逐渐变少。

　　淡水供应是一个严重的问题。目前三个亚洲人中间至少就有一人得不到清洁的饮用水供应，淡水资源不足将会成为制约粮食生产的主要因素。亚洲的能源需求增长速度远远超过世界上其它地区。城市中心人口增长相当快，尤其集中在一些大城市。亚洲特色的百万人口都市化极有可能引发新的环境和社会危机。

　　环境污染和自然保护问题引起了广泛关注，限制废物排放量和保护自然资源的相应法规也已制定。政府 开始制定经济政策以保护环境和提高资源利用率。对污染制造企业处以罚款如今在亚洲已屡见不鲜，政府利用提供资金贷款计划来鼓励进行资源再利用工程建设。

　　现在亚洲国家面临的最大挑战就是如何在发展自由贸易的同时，保持并加强环境和自然资源的保护。某些国家已经开始采取行动以协调国家经济利益和公益环境保护之间的关系。

注释：

1． access：（接近，进入或使用的）机会，方法。最常用的搭配是have/ get/ obtain access to可以/有机会接近。它还能表示“接近；进入；达到；通路”，比如：attain access to sb.'s mind深入某人的心；再比如：a man of easy access易于接近的人。

2． proportion：比例。两个容易弄混的词组需特别注意：in proportion和in proportion to。In proportion有“成比例，匀称”的意思，比如：Her features are in proportion.她五官端正。它还能表示“公正”，比如：see the problem in proportion公允地看问题。而in proportion to 表示“与……成比例”，比如：Are you paid in proportion to the number of hours you work? 他们是按你的工时数付给你工资吗？

3． reuse：re-是一个表示“再，反复，又”的前缀。如该词reuse再利用，再如后面的recycling再生，再循环。