2020-12-28 ‘Ditch high definition to fight climate change’ 为了应对气候变化 看视频不选 “高清模式”

英国皇家学会（Royal Society）的科学家们发表的一份报告称，在线收看电视节目时，选 “标清模式” 可以减少碳排放量。

The report says digital technology produces up to 6% of global emissions, but the authors say there are ways to lessen the impact.

这份报告称，数字技术产生的碳排放量占全球排放总量的6%，报告的作者说，有方法可以减轻这一影响。

One is for people streaming music to turn off the video if they’re just listening, not watching. Another is to keep appliances for longer because each new appliance creates CO2 emissions when it’s manufactured. So, if people keep their phones for four years instead of two, the report says, the impact is halved. Buying a device secondhand or sharing equipment also helps.

一种方法是，如果在线听音乐的人们只是在听，而不是在看音乐，那么就可以关掉视频。另一种方法是延长电器的使用寿命，因为制造每个新电器时都会产生二氧化碳排放。因此，这个报告称，如果人们的手机使用寿命是四年，而不是两年，其影响则会减半。同时，购买二手电子设备或与他人共享设备也会帮助减轻影响。

On the other side are the underplayed benefits of digital to save energy: why heat your whole home, the authors ask, if you can fit digital controls, so you only heat the room you’re in?

另一方面，数字节能的好处被低估了。报告的作者表示，与其给整个家供暖，不如安装数字控制器，这样你只需要给自己所在的房间供暖。

词汇表

streaming 在线收听或收看
appliances 家用电器
manufactured 被制造
secondhand 二手地
equipment 设备
underplayed 被低估的，被轻视的
fit 安装
controls 控制装置

阅读理解：请在读完上文后，回答下列问题。

1. True or false? By turning off a video you’re listening to and not watching, you can save energy.

2. What percentage of global emissions does digital technology produce?

3. According to the report, what will happen if people keep their phones for four years instead of two?

4. What can we do to save energy using digital technology when trying to heat our homes?

答案

1. True or false? By turning of a video you’re listening to and not watching, you can save energy.
True. One way to lessen the impact of digital technology on global emissions is for people streaming music to turn off the video if they’re just listening and not watching.

2. What percentage of global emissions does digital technology produce?
Digital technology produces up to 6% of global emissions.

3. According to the report, what will happen if people keep their phones for four years instead of two?
If people keep their phones for four years instead of two, the impact of CO2 emissions through manufacturing is halved.

4. What can we do to save energy using digital technology when trying to heat our homes?
If possible, you can fit digital controls. In this way, you can save energy by heating the room you’re in, instead of heating the whole home.