动物适应能力赶不上气候变化速度

气候变化正使全球很多物种面临生存挑战。一个国际研究团队发现，尽管动物会“自我调节”来适应环境变化，但它们的适应能力总体上还是赶不上气候变化的速度。

德国莱布尼茨动物园与野生动物研究所学者领衔的团队近日在英国《自然·通讯》杂志发表报告说，他们分析了此前发表的1万多项科研成果，结果发现，动物通常会尽力“自我调节”去适应气候变化，比如调整冬眠、繁殖和迁徙时间等，只要适应得足够快，它们还是可以在气候变化时在自己的栖息地生活。

不过研究人员说，按照如今的气候变化速度，即便是那些“自我调节”较快的动物，适应速度也不足以保证生存。

莱布尼茨动物园与野生动物研究所教授沙特说，新研究主要针对鸟类，而且是大山雀、喜鹊等常见而且已知能较好地应对气候变化的物种。其他动物群体的完整数据较少。研究人员预计，一些稀有或濒危物种的生存前景更不容乐观。

动物灭绝可能会对生态系统造成严重破坏。研究人员说，希望他们的分析和数据整理能够促进气候变化与物种适应能力相关研究，为制定更好的环境保护措施贡献力量。

The speed of climate disruption is outstripping many animals’ capacity to adapt, according to a study that warns of a growing threat to even common species such as sparrows, magpies and deer.

Scientists behind the research described the results as alarming because they showed a dangerous lag between a human-driven shift in the seasons and behavioural changes in the natural world.

Previous academic work has shown that species respond to warming temperatures by earlier timing of biological events, for example egg-laying by birds, budding of plants and flying of insects. The new metastudy, published in Nature Research, examines how effective this is in terms of reproduction and survival.

Based on 10,090 abstracts and extracted data from 71 published studies, it found a clear lag in the majority of species studied and none could be considered safe. “The probability that none of the study species is at risk is virtually zero,” the paper notes.

The authors said hundreds of thousands of species were not covered by their study, which was weighted heavily towards birds in the northern hemisphere, but they said the problems of adaptation to climate change were likely to be even greater for other animals already deemed at risk of extinction.

Viktoriia Radchuk of the Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research in Germany, said: “Personally I find the results alarming. Species attempt to adapt to changing environment, but they cannot do it at a sufficient pace to ensure that populations are viable. Climate change has caused irreversible damage to our biodiversity already, as evidenced by the findings of this study. The fact that species struggle to adapt to the current rate of climate change means we have to take action immediately in order to at least halt or decrease the rate.”

A similar message was delivered to the UK parliament on Tuesday as senior conservation figures warned that the nation’s natural infrastructure – which provides fresh water, clean air, carbon sequestration and human wellbeing – was being undermined by the climate crisis, pollution, urban sprawl and budget cuts.

Tony Juniper, the chair of Natural England, which is the government’s main advisory body on conservation, said: “The 21st century will be characterised by our success or not in wrestling with these huge challenges. If we carry on as we are, I fear biodiversity will continue to decline in this country.”

He told the Environmental Audit Committee that the present system of monitoring and protecting nature reserves and sites of special scientific interest had been undermined by a 60% budget cut over the past 10 years, which had left a stressed and demoralised skeleton crew.

It was not too late to reverse this, he said, and outlined plans for a “nature recovery network” that would rebuild woodlands and peatlands, and work with farmers to protect species and restore soil quality, which can draw down the carbon dioxide that causes global heating.

“This is the soundest investment we can make in the future of the country,” Juniper said. “Unlike other assets – like roads and bridges, which depreciate over time – you get more value in the future,” he said, citing economists’ estimates of a 10 to 100-fold return in terms of better food, water and carbon sequestration.

His views were echoed by the head of the Committee on Climate Change, John Gummer, who said it would be impossible for the UK to reach its goal of “net zero” emissions by 2050 without investing in biodiversity protection and renewal.

Source: Zaobao / The Guardian

H&M to charge for plastic bags

Fashion giant H&M will soon start charging customers in Singapore 10 cents for each plastic or paper bag as part of a new initiative to reduce waste.

The move, which takes effect at all H&M stores from next Thursday (July 25), is part of a packaging strategy to reduce plastic use in the long run, said the Swedish retailer in a press release on Monday (July 15).

All proceeds collected from the shopping bag charge will be donated to WWF Singapore’s Plastic ACTion (PACT) initiative, which is an industry-wide initiative to reduce plastic use by 2030.

Under PACT, proceeds from H&M’s shopping bag charge will go towards innovations to find sustainable alternative materials, research into plastic pollution and conservation projects.

Shoppers who patronise the fashion giant have welcomed the move against plastic use.

Graphic designer Audrey Ng, 25, who shops at H&M every other month, said she does not mind paying for a bag.

“If I really needed a bag, then why not pay for it? It’s 10 cents, which is not expensive and the money also goes to a good cause.”

Ms Ng added that the charge would also cause shoppers to determine if they really needed a bag before accepting one.

Civil servant Ginny Goh, 44, said that while she does not think plastic bags should be banned entirely, charging for them is the right move.

“I think all single-use bags should be chargeable. We need to drastically cut down on their use and the only way is to charge. This way, people will only take what they need.”

Ms Goh’s two teenage daughters also shop at H&M and she regularly encourages them to bring their own bags.

“I don’t think it’s a big deal to charge for bags. People will get used to it. In many other countries, bags are already chargeable everywhere, in the shops and in the supermarkets.”

H&M has already rolled out charges for shopping bags in other countries including Sweden, Malaysia, the United Kingdom, Japan and Switzerland.

H&M is not the first company in Singapore to charge for shopping bags.

In October last year, the Cotton On Group embarked on a similar programme to phase out plastic shopping bags from all its stores worldwide, including in Singapore. The fashion chain now provides shoppers with recyclable paper bags which cost 10 cents each.

Cosmetics and skincare company The Body Shop stopped providing plastic bags in January 2018, and it also charges 10 cents for each recyclable paper bag.   

Lifestyle brand Miniso and clothing chain Bossini have also been charging 10 cents for a bag since 2017 and 2012 respectively.

Swedish furniture giant Ikea started charging for plastic bags in 2007 before phasing them out in 2013. Today, shoppers must bring their own bags or buy a reusable polypropylene bag at 90 cents each.

Asked about customer reaction to the zero plastic bag policy, the head of sustainability for Ikea South-east Asia, Ms Soh Bee Lian, said there was almost no negative reaction.

“We believe that Singaporeans want to do what they can for the environment,” she said.

Speaking about H&M’s initiative, the company’s country manager for South-east Asia, Mr Fredrik Famm, said: “To create a more sustainable fashion future, we need to take the lead by tackling some of the most significant challenges that are facing our planet and society.”

WWF Singapore chief executive officer  Maureen DeRooij said that H&M’s move comes at a crucial time when bold action is needed to change how plastics are produced, used and disposed off.

“A bag charge, proven to be effective in reducing plastic use, is a crucial step that retail businesses can take to stop plastic pollution,” she said.

Source: The Straits Times

面对气候变化 新加坡以长远规划加强应对措施

气候变化带来的威胁迫在眉睫，全球若不采取行动，继续对当前温室气体排放情况置之不理，新加坡到了2100年将面对更炎热天气、海平面上升问题，以及南极冰架倒塌带来的强大破坏力。

联合国政府间气候变化专门委员会将在2022年发布第六次评估报告，我国已经准备检讨规划范围，将报告中的新预测纳入考量，以更好地应对气候变化带来的影响。

国务资政张志贤星期四（7月4日）在蚬壳石油公司举办的”共创未来”论坛上致辞时，详述我国在应对气候变化所做的方方面面准备，包括减排、促进与利益相关者的合作，以及加强我国面对气候变化的抵御能力。

也是国家安全统筹部长的张志贤说，我国资源有限，早在1960年代发展初期，气候变化仍未成为关注点之前，已经致力于打造一个绿色环境，而这份长期规划理念一直不变。

新加坡目前应对气候变化所采取的对策，是参考了新加坡气候研究中心所进行的第二份全国气候变化调查。这份调查是以联合国政府间气候变化专门委员会2014年发布的第五次评估报告预测为依据，从而为新加坡制定对策。

张志贤指出，如果全球各国不采取行动应对当前温室气体排放情况，到了2100年，我国可能面对平均每日气温比1980年至2009年间，上升4.6摄氏度的情况，而到时的全球海平面相比于1986年至2005年间，将上升达一公尺。

到时的这个情景还未将南极冰架倒塌可能带来的冲击纳入考量，而它所带来的影响一直备受全球科学家关注。不少外国媒体去年底也报道了南极冰架倒塌恐引发全球大规模水患等隐忧。

新加坡在这方面早已未雨绸缪，采取行动，包括在2011年已把新填海土地的最低填海水平调高一公尺，而未来的大型基础建设如樟宜机场第五搭客大厦和大士码头也都会建在更高平台。同时，政府也在探讨需要进一步采取哪些填海、建造防波堤（sea wall）等措施，更好地保护我国沿岸地带。

张志贤说：”这些是我国必须做出的重大投资，以保障我们的未来，应对未来几十年海平面上升所带来的影响。”政府会谨慎探讨各项措施的成本效益（cost-benefit）。

此外，新加坡也正在透过让资源来源更多元化和自给自足能力的加强，来强化我国气候变化应对能力。

张志贤说：”在我们加强韧性的同时，也会积极帮助企业将挑战转变为机遇，建造绿色建筑与研发节能科技，推动节能节水及节省土地的城市耕作”

例如，吉宝岸外与海事正在与本地研究机构合作设计可抵抗北极海洋与冰川情况的钻探平台（rig）和其他岸外设施。新科工程最近也获颁合同，为美国海岸卫队设计和建造能穿越极地冰区的新重型破冰船。

另一方面，蚬壳石油公司也在”共创未来”论坛上宣布于本地设立旗下首个全球城市解决方案生活实验室。

蚬壳石油公司将与政府、私人企业和各地社群紧密合作推动创新概念与先进科技，改善能源与资源的使用方式，朝更节能减碳的未来迈进。

张志贤说：”气候变化无疑是我们现在面对的最棘手全球挑战之一。我们现在就须要采取行动减低碳排放量并培养应变能力，以在这个世纪末和更长远的未来保护好我们自己。”

SINGAPORE – As a small, low-lying island state, Singapore will continue to take preventive action against the impact of climate change, Senior Minister Teo Chee Hean said on Thursday (July 4).

Mr Teo drew attention in particular to the Republic’s efforts in going low-carbon and managing rising sea levels in a speech at the sixth Asian edition of the Shell Powering Progress Together forum.

Singapore raised the minimum level for newly reclaimed land by 1m in 2011, a move that preceded the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s (IPCC) most recent report in 2014 by three years.

The report projected that global sea levels – relative to Singapore’s sea levels from 1986 to 2005 – will rise 1m by 2100 if the world’s current carbon emission trajectory remains unchanged.

But sea waters could potentially rise even further, Mr Teo noted, as the report did not factor in the impact from the possible collapse of melting Antarctica ice shelves.

“We are currently studying what further measures we need to take, such as reclamation, sea walls or pumping stations, to better protect our coastal areas,” said Mr Teo, who is also Coordinating Minister for National Security.

“By planning early, we can phase in the necessary measures so that the cost can be spread out over many years.”

For example, the new mega-port at Tuas Terminal and Changi Airport Terminal 5 will be built 1m and 1.5m above the minimum level required respectively.

The focus of this year’s forum was on sustainable energy use in future cities. At the forum, Shell launched its first global City Solutions Living Lab, to be located here.

A multidisciplinary team will develop technological solutions aimed at helping cities move people and goods with lower emissions and switch to cleaner energy options, while working together with city authorities.

Shell said it chose to base the lab in Singapore due to the city-state’s active push for energy transition and sustainability, its pro-business environment and Shell’s longstanding presence here, going back to 1891.

Singapore’s commitment to a green environment dates back to the 1960s and going low-carbon is an extension of that, said Mr Teo.

Singapore introduced a carbon tax earlier this year and is investing in infrastructure for more electric vehicles to reduce the nation’s carbon footprint.

The tax, currently set at $5 per tonne of greenhouse gas emissions in carbon dioxide equivalent, will be reviewed in 2023 with a view to increasing it to between $10 and $15 by 2030.

Mr Teo added that Singapore is happy to work with businesses like Shell who have adopted significant measures to reduce their carbon footprint.

“Businesses need to transform their business models for a world that demands corporate climate responsibility, and take advantage of the opportunities that this offers,” he said.

Source: Zaobao / The Straits Times

四品牌八超市将设捐赠箱 推广自备及再循环购物袋

本地四大连锁超市首次与非政府组织“零废新加坡”合作，从本月至10月展开全国“自备购物袋”活动，并在八间超市设置环保袋捐赠箱，让居民捐出干净且可循环使用的多余购物袋。

职总平价合作社（FairPrice）、冷藏公司（Cold Storage）、百美（Prime）和昇菘（Sheng Siong）将在旗下八间超市举行48场路演与推广活动，届时除了将收集到的环保袋分发给没有自备袋子的消费者，还会随机给予自备环保袋购物的人士奖励，希望能向逾120万名消费者宣导环保信息，减低对塑料袋的依赖。

这八间超市分别是：嘉龙威购物广场（Kallang Wave Mall）的职总霸级超市、职总平价城市广场（City Square Mall）超市、冷藏公司启汇城（Fusionpolis）超市、冷藏公司勘宝坊（Compass One）超市、百美阿裕尼上段裕盛超市、百美裕廊西75街超市、昇松金文泰西2街超市和昇菘武吉班让Junction 10超市。

八间超市的收银员都将佩戴“BYOB”徽章，也会有意识地询问顾客是否需要塑料袋，以提醒与推动客户自备购物袋（Bring Your Own Bag，简称BYOB）。

环境及水源部兼卫生部高级政务部长许连碹博士星期三（7月3日）在嘉龙威购物广场职总霸级超市举行的启动仪式上，引述新加坡环境理事会最近公布的一项调查称，本地居民每年从超市索取8.2亿个塑料袋，相等于每人每次取走三个袋子。她认为尽管许多人用这些塑料袋装垃圾，但拿取的数量已超所需。

零废新加坡（Zero Waste Singapore）经理白海琳受访时说，活动目的不是要禁用塑料袋，而是从塑料袋取用量最大的超市着手，希望减少国人过量使用的习惯。

她表示：“一些国人习惯用完塑料制品随手就扔……我们通过收集反馈和观察发现，许多人在家有多余且不常使用的环保袋。与其制造更多环保袋，我们希望利用现有资源再循环，鼓励社区内的重复使用。”

“自备购物袋”的倡议引发现场公众讨论。居民黄惠莲（76岁，退休者）从八年前就习惯在外出购物前自备环保袋。她认为捐赠箱的设立，有利于促进资源合理再分配。“我家有很多多余的环保袋没地方收，正好能捐出。”

另一名受访退休人士杨大卫（67岁）则认为捐赠环保袋并不实际。“消费者能自备袋子就偷笑了，还要他们特地捐更多出来？我觉得它不会起作用。”

公众：对塑料袋收费能有效降低使用量

从吉隆坡来新探亲的廖定妹（72岁，退休者）分享，促使公众自备购物袋的最佳做法是超市对塑料袋收费。

“我之前完全没有自备袋子的习惯。自从吉隆坡的超市今年3月起对每个塑料袋收2角钱后，包括我在内的全城市民都很记得去到哪里都要带袋子。”

Forgotten reusable bags collecting dust around the home can now be put to good use and help save the earth.

From Wednesday (July 3), members of the public can drop their unused reusable bags into a donation bin at eight supermarket outlets – two each from FairPrice, Sheng Siong, Cold Storage and Prime Supermarket.

Local environmental group Zero Waste SG (ZWSG), which is behind the initiative, will then collect the bags and ensure they are in good condition before redistributing them to random shoppers at each of the selected outlets. This will happen every two to four weeks from now till October.

“Singapore has a ‘use and throw’ culture. We want to reduce the country’s excessive usage of plastic bags and cultivate a habit of using reusable bags when shopping,” said ZWSG manager Pek Hai Lin at the launch of the initiative, held at FairPrice Xtra Kallang Wave Mall on Wednesday.

Some 820 million plastic bags are taken from supermarkets here every year, a recent study by the Singapore Environment Council found.

Ms Pek said that most plastic bags do not get recycled, as it is not profitable for recycling plants. Instead they get incinerated, a process that increases carbon emissions and contributes to global warming.

When shoppers use a reusable bag for a year, it is estimated that they save 125 single-use plastic bags, according to study commissioned by the National Environment Agency.

“Though the initiative is a good step to encourage the use of reusable bags, this alone is not enough,” said retiree Narayanan S.R, who was shopping at Kallang Wave Mall’s FairPrice Xtra.

The reusable bag sharing stations are placed at the Sheng Siong and FairPrice supermarkets at Khatib Central.

The Indian national said that he uses cloth bags made from coir, the fibre from coconut outer husks, to dispose of his garbage as an alternative to using plastic bags.

“It is the mindset of the population that they are entitled to using plastic bags which needs to be changed,” said the 70-year old.

But fellow shopper Mr Yang, who declined to give his full name, thinks that the initiative will not be effective.

The 67-year-old retiree said: “Everyone already has a reusable bag somewhere at home, and will still need to use plastic bags eventually.

“I try to take at least 10 plastic bags when I go grocery shopping, because what else am I going to use to dispose of my garbage at home?”

The participating outlets are: FairPrice City Square Mall and Kallang Wave Mall, Sheng Siong at Clementi West Block 720 and Junction 10, Cold Storage Compass One and Fusionopolis Way, and the Prime Supermarkets in Joo Seng and Jurong West Street 75.

Source: Zaobao / The Straits Times

科学家警告：南极洲海冰面积缩至40年新低

研究指出，南极洲海冰面积在数十年来不停扩大，原因不明后，在仅仅数年内消融的面积是法国的4倍多，如今海冰面积创新低。

在1979至2014年间，科学家观察到一个有趣且令人松口气的现象，那就是南极洲海冰面积正在扩大。

但美国国家航空暨太空总署（NASA）气候学家巴金生（Claire Parkinson）表示，自2014至2017年，南极融化的海冰几乎与北极一样多，面积缩水至近40年来新低。

南极洲海冰面积自1280万平方公里缩减了200万平方公里，但原因仍不清楚。

巴金生表示：“南极洲海冰面积在2014年创下40年新高，到2017年一路缩水至40年新低。”巴金生的研究结果发表于“美国国家科学院学报”（PNAS）。

研究团队分析了这段期间美国国家航空暨太空总署和军方卫星的微波测量，以建立至今关于海冰面积的最精确描绘，但仅为涵盖面积，而非冰层厚度。

南极洲先前面积扩大及当前缩减的原因都仍不清楚。

WASHINGTON (AFP) – After mysteriously expanding for decades, Antarctica’s sea ice cover melted by an area four times greater than France in just a few years and now stands at a record low, according to a study published on Monday (July 1).

Scientists already knew Antarctica was thawing at an increasing rate, like the Arctic, because of accelerating discharge from glaciers, the rivers of ice that push up slowly against the shore.

But between 1979 and 2014, they observed a phenomenon that was both intriguing and reassuring: the sea ice cover was expanding.

From 2014 to 2017, however, “the Antarctic lost almost as much as the Arctic” over almost 40 years, NASA climatologist Claire Parkinson told Agence France-Presse, and the trend has continued ever since.

From a peak area of 12.8 million square kilometres, the sea ice cover receded two million square kilometers for reasons that remain unknown.

“It went from its 40-year high in 2014, all the way down in 2017 to its 40-year low,” said Parkinson, whose findings were published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).

The team analysed microwave measurements from NASA and military satellites over the period to build up the most precise picture to date of the historic sea ice cover, measuring only area but not thickness.

Neither the reason for the earlier expansion nor the current decline are well understood.

Competing hypotheses exist, pinning the changes on everything from the hole in the ozone layer to shifting winds and ocean currents, but it’s far from clear cut.

“None of the hypotheses are good in my opinion,” said Douglas Martinson, an oceanographer from Columbia University, one of the paper’s peer reviewers.

But he cautioned against trying to apply findings from the Arctic to the Antarctic, saying it would be “like comparing apples to army trucks.”

The Arctic is an ocean surrounded by land, while Antarctica is a continent surrounded by oceans, where icebergs are less constrained.

While parts of western Antarctica are warming, the continent remains the coldest place on Earth, as well as its largest source of freshwater.

Its mountains are covered in ice are capable of raising the level of the oceans by 57 meters, according to a 2013 study.

Chris Rapley, a climate scientist from the University College of London, said the previous gains did not in any way undermine the thesis of global warming.

“It simply demonstrates that in a complex, interconnected system, counter-intuitive outcomes can occur – at least for a while.

“We have a tendency to seek simplistic explanations of cause and effect, when in reality the situation is much more complicated and nuanced.”

Source: Zaobao / The Straits Times

新西兰7月1日起禁用一次性塑料袋

（惠灵顿法新电）新西兰星期一（7月1日）正式禁止使用一次性塑料购物袋，商家若违例将面对重罚，包括可能被罚款高达10万新西兰元（约9万新元）。

塑料污染在全球日益受到关注。据估计，每年有100万只鸟和超过10万只海洋哺乳动物，因为被塑料包装困住或在摄取食物的过程中吞入塑料而受伤或死亡。

新西兰环境部长塞奇说：“新西兰的清洁、绿化声誉，令新西兰人感到骄傲。我们希望不辜负这个声誉，而停止使用一次性塑料购物袋就能做到。”

根据新条例，商家再也不能为顾客提供只能使用一次的薄塑料袋，但法律允许商家继续提供可重复使用的购物袋。

对新西兰人来说，这项新法对他们的实际影响不大，因为新西兰的大规模超级市场已经自愿停止使用一次性塑料购物袋。

塞奇接受新西兰电台节目访问时承认新禁令“做得远远不足够”，但她说新法的“重要性在于开启了相关的讨论。人们现在开始讨论一次性塑料产品以及该如何逐步淘汰它们”。

根据联合国环境署的统计，全球已有80多个国家禁止使用一次性塑料袋。

WELLINGTON (XINHUA) – Single-use plastic bags are officially banned for all New Zealand retailers from Monday (July 1).

As stipulated by the Waste Minimisation (Plastic Shopping Bags) Regulations 2018, which came into force on Monday, New Zealand retailers including stores, supermarkets and restaurants will no longer be able to sell or distribute any single-use plastic shopping bags.

Single-use plastic shopping bags are defined as any plastic bag which has handles and is less than 70 microns thick. Plastic shopping bags in the fruit and vegetable section and other areas of supermarkets are the only exceptions.

New Zealand Associate Environment Minister Eugenie Sage said that the ban on single-use plastic shopping bags is a step towards healthier oceans and giving nature a hand.

“New Zealanders are proud of our country’s clean, green reputation and want to help ensure we live up to it. The plastic shopping bag ban is one step to tackle New Zealand’s waste issues. We also need to recharge our materials recovery and recycling systems and shift to a circular economy,” Ms Sage said.

Mainstream supermarkets have already made the change away from single-use plastic shopping bags. Businesses were given six months ahead of the ban to phase-out single-use plastic bags.

Source: Zaobao / The Straits Times

世界气象组织：2015-2019很可能是史上最热五年

世界气象组织周五（28日）发表声明说，在刚过去的四年是有记录以来最热的四年。这种全球变暖趋势在2019年延续，没有减弱迹象。今年前五个月的气温是有记录以来同期气温的第三高。今年5月的南极海冰面积是有记录以来的最小值，而北极海冰面积则是有记录以来的第二小值。

世界气象组织还指，全球温室气体的浓度仍在不断升高，二氧化碳能够在空气和海洋中存在数百年之久，持续导致气温升高和海洋酸化。

新华社报道，世界气象组织秘书长塔拉斯说，地球上一次出现如此高浓度的二氧化碳还是在300万至500万年前，当时的气温比现在高出2至3摄氏度，海平面也比现在高出10米至20米。

欧洲正经历今年第一次热浪，许多地方白天和夜间气温都创下6月同期纪录。法国南部许多地区近期气温高达40摄氏度左右，法国气象部门在多个地区发出级别最高的红色警报；西班牙北部多地也高达40摄氏度并触发红色警报，同时由于加泰罗尼亚野火肆虐，野火风险极高；在德国，51个观测站录下6月温度新纪录，而瑞士超过一半的观测站26日也测量到新的6月温度纪录。

世界气象组织说，此次欧洲遭受的热浪属于今年早些时候在澳大利亚、印度、巴基斯坦及中东部分地区发生的极端高温事件的延续，预计今年夏天北半球会出现更多热浪。

据世界气象组织估计，2000年至2016年间，全球遭热浪侵袭的人数增加了1.26亿。而城市化让问题加剧，由此造成的健康风险包括中暑、脱水、心血管疾病等。塔拉斯说，我们越来越多地听到“气候紧急状态”这个词，这已不仅仅是气候问题。

Source: Zaobao

李总理：协力治理海洋垃圾 新加坡欢迎亚细安采纳《曼谷宣言》

地球暖化现象影响全球的永续发展，亚细安国家的一些城市也同时面对跨境环境污染问题，这些单凭一己之力难以对抗的挑战，需要亚细安各国协力合作，集思广益确保东南亚持续成为宜居且充满活力的区域。

到泰国曼谷出席第34届亚细安峰会的李显龙总理，昨天下午在全体大会上致词时透露，新加坡欢迎亚细安采纳关于海洋垃圾治理的《曼谷宣言》，以共同应对在亚细安地区出现的海洋垃圾污染严峻形势。

根据法新社取得的草案内容，亚细安10国领导人预料在峰会结束前签署的《曼谷宣言》中承诺“预防和削减海洋垃圾”，这将是东南亚区域合作组织就打击海洋垃圾达成的历来第一份协议。

李总理指出，新加坡是缺乏天然资源、幅员不大的低洼岛国，无可避免受到气候变迁的不定因素影响，尤其是海平面上涨和强烈暴雨引发的淹水，其他挑战还包括亚细安各国主要滨海城市也面对的烟霾污染和海洋垃圾问题。

“世界四大最严重的海洋塑料污染就位于东南亚，海洋污染不只是对公共卫生和粮食供应构成威胁，也对该地区的旅游业造成冲击。在新加坡，海洋垃圾不时被冲上岸边，如果我们不控制污染问题，东南亚地区许多美丽海岸线也将面临污染风险。”

海洋保护协会（Ocean Conservancy）的2017年报告显示，每年共发现约800万公吨的海洋塑料垃圾，而当中超过一半是印尼、中国、菲律宾、越南和泰国丢弃的。

本届峰会定下的主题是“为可持续发展推进伙伴合作”（Advancing Partnership for Sustainability），李总理说，可持续发展关乎国家经济发展和人民生活素质的改善，新加坡认真看待其重要性，也强烈支持在亚细安层面上以集体力量因应跨境环境问题带来的挑战。

他同时指出，垃圾管理是更广泛的问题，亚细安必须减少垃圾制造量以降低对生活环境构成的不利后果。李总理向与会的亚细安十国领袖介绍说，新加坡目前通过焚化方式处理大部分不能再循环的垃圾，并将无法焚烧的部分送去实马高岛填土，但填土需要空间，新加坡是弹丸小国，无法不断腾出面积填埋垃圾。

李总理说，长期而言，新加坡政府“制定了更高远的目标，减少消耗物质、以重用和再循环赋予用后物品第二生命，致力成为‘零垃圾’国家”。

环境及水源部长马善高较早前已宣布国家环境局将在今年推出“零垃圾总蓝图”，并会征询利益相关者的意见。

李总理也乐见新加坡去年主办的气候行动亚细安部长级特别会议，成功扮演带动这个区域就环境问题采取的应对行动。

他指出，新加坡支持通过具体行动共享信息和加强能力建设以应对需求，“例如设在新加坡的亚细安气象中心便与亚细安成员国合作强化各方快速侦察林火的能力，包括分享关于气候模式和天气预报的信息，以及如何减缓相关风险。”

为进一步推进气候环境这个重要课题的对话，我国暂定今年8月主办第二届的气候变化亚细安合作伙伴会议（ASEAN Climate Change Partnership Conference）。

李总理说，为实现可持续发展愿景寻求解决方案并不容易，“我们需要采取整体全面的做法，而单凭一个国家往往难以办到，我们必须合作确保东南亚在未来的多年内依然是宜居且充满活力的区域。”

泰国首相巴育也在全体大会开场的简短致词中指出，大会旨在商讨加强亚细安共同体的建设，为未来打下坚实基础，最终目标是为6亿4000万的亚细安人口谋求福祉。

“亚细安人民如今面对前所未的变化和无数挑战，包括气候变迁、贸易竞争、发展差距，以及经济和社会转型……希望我们共同合作在安全、经济和社会增长各个层面为亚细安争取可持续发展的未来。”

Source: Zaobao

研究：微塑料已渗透饮食 人类每周摄入量如一张信用卡

根据世界自然基金会（WWF）日前发布的文告，澳大利亚纽卡斯尔大学近期展开的一项研究发现，全球每人平均一周会摄入约五克重的微塑料，相当于一张信用卡的重量。以此估算，人们每年平均会摄入约10万片（250克重）的微塑料。

这些微塑料主要源自一般塑料降解（degradation）以及释放到大自然中的小颗粒塑料。目前尚未完全了解这些微塑料对人体健康的具体影响。

根据世界自然基金会（WWF）日前发布的文告，澳大利亚纽卡斯尔大学近期展开的一项研究发现，全球每人平均一周会摄入约五克重的微塑料，相当于一张信用卡的重量。以此估算，人们每年平均会摄入约10万片（250克重）的微塑料。

这些微塑料主要源自一般塑料降解（degradation）以及释放到大自然中的小颗粒塑料。目前尚未完全了解这些微塑料对人体健康的具体影响。

基金会指出，摄入塑料只不过是塑料污染危机的一小部分。塑料污染对野生生态造成重大威胁，不仅会有动物卷入渔网，还会损坏海滩和红树林，也会影响经济，包括渔业和水产养殖业。

不过基金会认为，各国政府没有针对塑料流入环境和食物链采取足够和适当的措施，要改善塑料污染情况，政府必须扮演重要角色。

世界自然基金会总干事朗贝迪尼（Marco Lambertini）促请各国政府、企业和消费者采取行动，并制定国际条约和目标，才能有效对抗塑料污染危机。

基金会近期展开运动，提高公众对微塑料的意识，同时鼓励大家承诺采取行动改善塑料污染问题。

公众可上网（https://yourplasticdiet.org/）回答一系列问题，包括多久一次喝水、食用贝壳类海鲜等饮食习惯，了解自己每周摄入的微塑料量。

网站至今已累积超过60万人承诺支持，基金会盼能号召更多人，通过请愿书推动各国政府和机构制定全球条约。

Source: Zaobao

收费无助减少滥用塑料袋 英超市改提供纸袋应对

英国第四大连锁超市宣布，下周起逐步于威尔士、英格兰及苏格兰各分店提供纸质购物袋，是英国首家提供纸袋的连锁超市。

英国近年开始收取塑料袋费用，但未能遏止滥用塑料袋情况，造成大量塑料垃圾。莫里森超市（Morrisons）自2015年开始，对每个一次性使用塑料袋征收5便士（约0.10新元），其后推出可重复使用的塑料袋，每个收取20便士，但未能显著减少使用塑料袋的情况。

因此，该集团决定推出可循环再用的纸袋，每个同样收取20便士，于1月开始在八间分店试行，反应理想，不少顾客都乐意采用纸袋。

莫里斯超市表示，改用纸袋可每年减少1300吨塑料垃圾，预料此举可促使英国其他超市减少提供塑料袋。

The UK’s fourth-biggest grocer will roll out the paper bags in Wales next week, followed by England and Scotland.

It said the scheme will take 1,300 tonnes of plastic out of the environment each year.

But question marks hang over whether paper bags are more environmentally friendly than plastic ones.

Morrisons has been trialling selling paper bags alongside plastic reusable carrier bags in eight Welsh stores.

It will start selling both types for 20p, having phased out 5p carrier bags in the past year in England, Wales and Scotland. The supermarket chain does not have any stores in Northern Ireland.

Morrisons marketing director Andy Atkinson said: “We are taking another meaningful step that will remove an estimated 1,300 tonnes of plastic out of the environment each year.

“Our customers have told us that reducing plastic is their number one environmental concern so introducing the paper bag across the nation will provide another way of reducing the plastic in their lives.”

Source: BBC / Zaobao

本地研究：本世纪前 海平面升高波及产米区将影响我国白米供应

本地研究人员预计海平面将在本世纪前升高约一公尺，东南亚主要产米区——湄公河三角洲将首当其冲，意味着我国白米来源也将受影响。

环境及水源部长马善高昨天出席美国金佰利公司的太阳能板启动仪式，并在研讨会上透露，经过超级电脑计算了一年后，当局预测海平面在本世纪前会上升约一公尺，到时会出现的情况包括亚细安部分地区的气温可能升高四至六个摄氏度。他直言：“气温升高四至六个摄氏度和升高的海平面，对食物供应是一大灾难。”

马善高指出，海平面升高，除了会波及湄公河三角洲，也将让新加坡陷入“严峻形势”，因为这足以构成“完美风暴”，即海平面升高一公尺、涨潮高达一公尺，若再加上一公尺的淹水，水位将升高三公尺。他说：“这也是为什么我们将樟宜第五搭客大厦建得高于海平面五公尺处，大士海港也高于海平面5.5公尺。”

应对气候变化应未雨绸缪

马善高说：“不管你是否相信气候变化会发生，还是应该未雨绸缪。”他补充，应对气候变化需数十亿元投资，提早开始行动才能在每年平摊费用。

在协助亚细安国家应对气候变化方面，马善高指出，我国去年推出的“气候行动配套”，协助提升亚细安国家的应对能力，也邀请亚细安代表到新加坡观摩我国的运作方式和政策。

生产婴儿纸尿片、纸巾和厨房用纸等产品的金佰利公司，昨天正式启用在屋顶设置的7730个太阳能板，足以应付工厂15％的总耗电量，每年减少1600公吨碳排放量，相等于路上少了近350辆汽车。

设于大士的金佰利公司工厂为亚太区消费者供应婴儿纸尿片、婴儿湿纸巾等产品。公司的太阳能板一年可生产3.5千兆瓦时的洁净能源，相等于1000个三房式组屋单位一年的用电量。

星生能源负责安装在金佰利公司的太阳能板。公司董事兼创办人潘凌峰指出，除了屋顶，公司正在积极寻找其他可利用的空间如建筑外墙装置太阳能板。他补充，公司正在研发能双面发电的太阳能板，有望制成太阳能篱笆或栅栏。

潘凌峰对我国在2020年达到350兆瓦太阳能供电的目标有信心。他说：“发电是其中一环，它与储存能源设备是相辅相成的，这才能解决太阳能板产电不稳定的问题。”

金佰利亚太区总裁阿查尔·阿加瓦尔（Achal Agarwal）透露，公司将持续关注科技发展，例如太阳能外墙或栅栏等产品，未来也会继续往可持续方向迈进。

Source: Zaobao

大气二氧化碳浓度突破415ppm 人类史上首见

夏威夷莫纳罗亚天文台上周六（11日）上午，探测到大气层二氧化碳浓度达到415.26ppm，是该数据首次突破415ppm。

地球大气层的二氧化碳浓度上次达到如此高水平是在300多万年前，当时全球海平面比现在高数公尺，南极洲部分地区则覆盖着森林。

波茨坦气候影响研究所的卢赫特说：“这显示，我们在保护环境方面没有处于正轨，有关数据一直在上升，而且一年比一年高。”

人类使用化石燃料和砍伐森林会造成大气中二氧化碳浓度居高不下，这将使得地球本身的自然降温系统无法发挥作用，进而造成地球表面的热气徘徊不去，全球气温因此一再升高，这可能带来毁灭性冲击。

Source: Zaobao