17 February 2022
圖1. 於韓國首爾的景觀。 (圖援用自原文)
Deadly wildfires, noise pollution and other looming environmental threats could cause widespread ecological damage, and need to be urgently addressed, the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) said in a new report published on Thursday.
在2022年2月17日(星期四)發表的一份新報告中，聯合國環境規劃署(UNEP)表示，致命的野火、噪音污染及其他急迫的環境威脅，可能造成廣泛的生態破壞。因此，需要緊急被處置。
“The Frontiers Report identifies and offers solutions to three environmental issues that merit attention and action from governments and the public at large,” said UNEP Executive Director Inger Andersen.
聯合國環境規劃署執行長，Inger Andersen 宣稱：「該新領域報告，確認並提出了，值得政府及一般大眾關注及採取行動之三個環境問題的解決方案。」
Noise, Blazes and Mismatches: Emerging Issues of Environmental Concern, the sixth report, draws attention to emerging environmental concerns with the potential to wreak regional or global havoc, if not addressed early.
噪音、火災及不協調：環境有關之事，浮現中的諸問題。第六份報告，提請人們注意浮現中，倘若不及早處置，有可能造成區域或全球嚴重破壞的環境有關諸事。
The latest report, released days before the UN Environment Assembly (UNEA) resumes, spotlights growing public health threats that are disrupting natural life cycles and having profound ecological consequences worldwide.
在聯合國環境大會(UNEA)復會前幾天，發布的最新報告強調了，正在破壞自然生命週期，及在全球各地產生深遠生態後果之擴大中的公共衛生威脅。
“Urban noise pollution, wildfires and phenological shifts – the three topics of this Frontiers Report – are issues that highlight the urgent need to address the triple planetary crisis of climate change, pollution and biodiversity loss,” said Ms. Andersen.
Andersen女士宣稱：「城市噪音污染、野火及生物與氣候相關的變化(上述新領域報告的三個主題)是凸顯，處置氣候變遷、污染及生物多樣性喪失等，三重地球危機之迫切需要的問題。」
Unwanted, prolonged and high-level sounds from road traffic, railways, or leisure activities, impair human health and well-being, according to the report.
根據該報告的說法，來自道路交通、鐵路或休閒活動等，不需要、長時間及高強度的聲音，會損害人類的健康及安寜。
Chronic annoyance and sleep disturbance caused by traffic can result in severe heart diseases and metabolic disorders with the very young, and mostly affect the elderly and marginalized communities near busy roads.
交通造成的慢性厭煩及睡眠障礙會導致，包括極年輕人在內的嚴重心臟病及代謝失調，且主要影響靠近繁忙道路之老式且邊緣化的社區。
Noise pollution also threatens animals by altering the communication and behaviour of various species, including birds, insects, and amphibians.
由於噪音污染會改變，包括鳥類、昆蟲及兩棲動物等，各類物種的溝通及行為，因此也威脅到動物。
The report encourages urban planners to prioritize noise reduction by investing in urban infrastructure that creates positive soundscapes such as tree belts, green walls, and more green spaces in cities – also offering diverse health benefits.
該份報告鼓勵城市規劃者優先考慮，藉由投資於城市中，創造諸如樹帶、綠化牆及更多綠色空間等，建設性音景(人類感知的聲音環境)來減少噪音，同時提供多種健康益處。
London’s Ultra-Low Emission Zone, Berlin’s new cycle lanes on wide roads, and Egypt’s national plan to combat noise, are positive examples that can be harnessed as the world builds back better from COVID.
倫敦的超低排放區、柏林在寬闊道路上新建的自行車道與埃及的國家抗噪計劃，都是隨著因冠狀病毒症(COVID：Coronavirus Disease)，世界重建得更好之能被借鏡的建設性例子。
Phenology is the timing of recurring life cycle stages, driven by environmental forces, and how species interacting within an ecosystem, respond to changing conditions.
生物氣候關係(生物生命週期中之周期性事件，與氣候季節性與年際變化及棲息地因素的關係)是由環境力量驅動之重複生命週期諸階段的時間選擇，及在生態系統中，物種的相互作用，如何對變化中的狀況作出反應。
Plants and animals in terrestrial, aquatic and marine ecosystems use temperature, day length or rainfall as cues for when to bear fruit, migrate or transform in other ways.
於陸地、水中及海洋的生態系統中，植物及動物利用溫度、白天長度或降雨量，作為何時結出果實、遷移或以其他方式改變的信號。
However, climate change disrupts these natural rhythms as plants and animals are being pushed out of synch with their natural rhythms, leading to mismatches, such as when plants shift life cycle stages faster than herbivores, the report says.
不過，該報告表示，氣候變遷擾亂了這些自然節律。因為，植物及動物正被推到與其自然節律不同步。這導致了諸如，當植物比食草動物更快改變生命週期諸階段時的不協調。
Meanwhile, local climatic cues that trigger migration for birds may no longer accurately predict conditions at their destination and resting sites along the route.
And in crops, phenological shifts in seasonal variations challenge food production.
同時，觸發鳥類遷徙的當地氣候信號，可能不再準確預測，在其目的地及沿途休息地點的狀況。此外，在農作物方面，於季節變化中之生物氣候關係的改變，挑戰了糧食產量。
The report flags the crucial importance of conservation goals, such as maintaining suitable habitats and ecological connectivity, strengthening the integrity of biological diversity and coordinating international efforts along migratory routes.
該報告揮動了，諸如維持適宜棲息地及生態連結性、加強完整生物多樣性及協調沿遷徙路線的國際努力等，諸多保護目標之至關重要的旗幟。
Above all, it underscores the importance of reducing CO2 emissions to limit the rate of warming.
最重要的是，其強調了減少二氧化碳排放，來抑制暖化速度的重要性。
The report outlined that between 2002 and 2016, an average of 423 million hectares of the Earth’s land surface – about the size of the European Union – burned, projecting that dangerous wildfires will likely become more frequent, intense and longer lasting, including in areas previously unaffected by fires.
該報告概述了，在2002年至2016年期間，平均有4.23億公頃的地球陸地表面(大約相當於歐盟的面積)被燒毀，預計危險的野火，可能會變得更加頻繁、強烈且持續時間更長，包括在以前未受火災影響的地區。
Climate change can prompt extreme wildfires, generating lightning that can ignite other fires, far beyond the fire front and creating a so-called hazardous feedback loop.
氣候變遷會助長極端的野火、產生會點燃，遠超出火線(野火的前沿，通常是連續的火焰線)，且引發一種所謂危險反饋迴路之其他火災的閃電。
Long-term effects on human health extend beyond those fighting wildfires, or the evacuated, or those who have lost homes, and exacerbate impacts among those with pre-existing illness, women, children, the elderly and the poor.
對人類健康的長期影響，不僅限於撲滅野火、被疏散或失去家園的人，且加劇在那些已有疾病的人、婦女、兒童、年長及窮人中的影響。
At the same time, black carbon and other pollutants generated from wildfires can contaminate water sources, speed up glacier melt, trigger landslides and turn rainforests into carbon sinks.
在此同時，來自野火產生的黑碳及其他污染物，會污染水源、加速冰川融化、引發地表滑動(山崩)及將熱帶雨林變成碳匯(是指從大氣中吸收的碳多於釋放的碳，譬如植物、海洋及土壤)。
To address this, the report calls for greater investment in reducing wildfire risks; developing prevention and response management approaches; and refinancing remote sensing capabilities, such as satellites and radar.
為解決上述問題，該報告呼籲，更多在降低野火風險上的投資、發展預防及響應處置方法及再為衛星及雷達等遙感技能提供融資。
網址：https://news.un.org/en/story/2022/02/1112162
翻譯：許東榮
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