因應全球暖化對野生動物影響 美眾議院提新法案 | 環境資訊中心
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因應全球暖化對野生動物影響 美眾議院提新法案

2007年10月22日
摘譯自2007年10月17日ENS美國,華盛頓特區報導;吳萃慧編譯;蔡麗伶審校

北極熊在融化的海冰上行走。圖片提供:© Greenpeace/Beltra為回應世人主張的全球暖化為全球自然環境最大的威脅,美國羅德島民主黨參議員懷豪斯(Sheldon Whitehouse)在10月17日宣布一項新的法案,這項法案將為因應氣候變遷對美國野生動物的影響的國家策略,鋪陳一個基礎。

這是這類議題的第一項法案,它的內容涵蓋了美國最瀕臨危險的植物與動物,將成為區域科學討論的焦點,同時也將使一個美國國家科學院專家小組能檢視氣候變遷對瀕臨絕滅(endangerous)、受威脅(threatened)或是瀕危(imperiled*)物種的影響,並建議應採取的行動。

主持這項參議院環境與公共事務委員會的加州民主黨參議員芭瑟(Barbara Boxer),將成為這項法案初期的共同支持者。

同為委員的懷豪斯表示,全球暖化已經開始在羅德島及全世界,對野生動物族群及各種海洋生態系產生嚴重且持續不斷的衝擊。 

他指出:「羅德島納拉甘西特灣(Narragansett Bay)的海水開始變暖之後,像冬季比目魚(winter flounder)具有高經濟價值的冷水魚種,已經開始被本地漁民認為較低經濟價值的鯛魚類暖水魚種所取代。而融化中的格陵蘭海冰已迫使北極熊前往人類居住的村落覓食。」

*譯註:全球性之瀕危等級G2之物種,棲地剩下6-20個,個體剩下1000-3000者稱為imperiled species。

Congress to Consider Global Warming Wildlife Survival Bill
WASHINGTON, DC, October 17, 2007 (ENS)

Calling global warming the single greatest threat to the world's natural environment, U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, a Rhode Island Democrat, today announced new legislation laying the groundwork for a national strategy to address the impacts of climate change on America's wildlife.

The bill is the first of its kind and includes components for the most imperiled plants and animals in the United States. It would convene regional scientific discussions and a National Academy of Sciences panel to examine the impacts of climate change on endangered, threatened, and otherwise imperiled species and recommend action.

Senator Barbara Boxer, the California Democrat who chairs the Senate Committee on the Environment and Public Works, will be an original cosponsor of the bill.

A member of the committee, Whitehouse said global warming has already begun to have a severe and lasting impact on wildlife populations and marine ecosystems in Rhode Island and around the world.

"As the waters of Narragansett Bay grow warmer, cold-water fish species with high commercial value, like winter flounder, have been replaced by warmer-water species, like scup, whose value to our fishermen is lower," Whitehouse said. "Melting sea ice in Greenland is pushing polar bears closer to inhabited villages in search of food."

全文及圖片詳見ENS

作者

蔡麗伶(LiLing Barricman)

In my healing journey and learning to attain the breath awareness, I become aware of the reality that all the creatures of the world are breathing the same breath. Take action, here and now. From my physical being to the every corner of this out of balance's planet.