[Annotated] The world is losing the war against climate change

Rising energy demand means use of fossil fuel is heading in the wrong direction

Earth is smouldering^[각주:1]. From Seattle to Siberia this summer, flames have consumed swathes of the northern hemisphere^[각주:2]. One of 18 wildfires sweeping through California^[각주:3], among the worst in the state's history, is generating such heat that it created its own weather. Fires that raged through a coastal area near Athens last week killed 91. Elsewhere people are suffocating in the heat^[각주:4]. Roughly 125 have died in Japan as the result of heatwave that^[각주:5] pushed temperatures in Tokyo above 40℃^[각주:6] for the first time. 

Such calamities^[각주:7], once considered freakish^[각주:8], are now commonplace^[각주:9]. Scientists have long cautioned that, as the planet warms - it is roughly 1℃ hotter today than before the industrial age's first furnaces were lit^[각주:10] - weather patterns will berserk^[각주:11]. An early analysis has found that this sweltering^[각주:12] European summer would have been less than half as likely were it not for human-induced^[각주:13] global warming. 

Yet as the impact of climate change becomes more evident^[각주:14], so too does the scale of the challenge ahead^[각주:15]. Three years after countries vowed in Paris to keep warming "well below" 2℃ relative to pre-industrial levels^[각주:16], greenhouse-gas emissions are up again. So are investments in oil and gas. In 2017, for the first time in four years, demand for coal rose. Subsidies for^[각주:17] renewables^[각주:18], such as wind and solar power, are dwindling in many places^[각주:19] and investment has stalled^[각주:20]; climate-friendly nuclear power is expensive and unpopular^[각주:21]. It is tempting to^[각주:22] think these are temporary setbacks^[각주:23] and that mankind, with its instinct for self-preservation^[각주:24], will muddle through to^[각주:25] a victory over global warming. In fact, it is losing the war. 

Living in a fuel's paradise

Insufficient progress is not to say no progress at all. As solar panels, wind turbines and other low-carbon technologies become cheaper and more efficient, their use has surged^[각주:26]. Last year the number of electric cars sold around the world passed 1m^[각주:27]. In some sunny and blustery places^[각주:28] renewable power now costs less than coal. 

Public concern is^[각주:29] picking up^[각주:30]. A poll last year of 38 countries found that 61% of people see climate change as a big threat; only the terrorists of Islamic State inspired more fear^[각주:31]. In the West campaigning investors talk of^[각주:32] divesting from companies that^[각주:33] make their living from coal and oil. Despite President Donald Trump's decision to yank America out of the Paris deal, many American cities and states have reaffirmed^[각주:34] their commitment to it^[각주:35]. Even some of the sceptic-in-chief's fellow Republicans appear less averse to^[각주:36] tackling the problem. In smog-shrouded^[각주:37] China and India, citizens choking on^[각주:38] fumes are^[각주:39] prompting governments to^[각주:40] rethink plans to rely heavily on coal to electrify their countries^[각주:41]. 

Optimists say that decarbonization is^[각주:42] within reach^[각주:43]. Yet, even allowing for^[각주:44] the familiar complexities of^[각주:45] agreeing on and enforcing global targets, it is proving extraordinarily difficult. 

One reason is soaring energy demand^[각주:46], especially in developing Asia. In 2006-16, as Asia's emerging economies forged ahead^[각주:47], their energy consumption rose by 40%. The use of coal, easily the dirtiest fossil fuel, grew at an annual rate of 3.1%. Use of cleaner natural gas grew by 5.2% and of oil by 2.9%. Fossil fuels are easier to hook up to^[각주:48] today's grids^[각주:49] than renewables that depend on the sun shining and the wind blowing. Even as green fund mangers threaten to pull back from^[각주:50] oil companies, state-owned behemoths in^[각주:51] the Middle East and Russia see Asian demand as a compelling reason to invest^[각주:52]. 

The second reason is economic and political inertia^[각주:53]. The more fossil fuels a country consumes, the harder it is to wean itself off them^[각주:54]. Powerful lobbies, and the voters who back them, entrench coal in^[각주:55] the energy mix^[각주:56]. Reshaping existing ways of^[각주:57] doing things can take years^[각주:58]. In 2017 Britain enjoyed its first coal-free day since igniting the Industrial Revolution in^[각주:59] the 1800s. Coal generates not merely 80% of India's electricity, but also underpins the economies of^[각주:60] some of its poorest states. Panjandrums in^[각주:61] Delhi are not keen to^[각주:62] countenance the end of coal^[각주:63], lest^[각주:64] that cripple the banking system^[각주:65], which lent it too much money^[각주:66], and the railways, which depend on it.

Last is the technical challenge of stripping carbon out of industries^[각주:67] beyond^[각주:68] power generation^[각주:69]. Steel, cement, farming, transport^[각주:70] and other forms of economic activity account for over half of global carbon emissions. They are technically harder to clean up than power generation and are protected by vested industrial interests^[각주:71]. Successes can turn out to be^[각주:72] illusory^[각주:73]. Because China's 1m-plus electric cars draw their oomph^[각주:74] from an electricity grid that draws two-thirds of its power from coal, they produce more carbon dioxide than some fuel-efficient^[각주:75] petrol-driven^[각주:76] models. Meanwhile, scrubbing CO{-2} from the atmosphere^[각주:77], which climate models imply is needed on a vast scale to meet the Paris target^[각주:78], attracts even less attention. 

The world is not short of ideas to realize the Paris goal. Around 70 countries or regions, responsible for one-fifth of all emissions, now price carbon^[각주:79]. Technologists beaver away^[각주:80] on sturdier grids^[각주:81], zero-carbon steel, even carbon-negative cement, whose production^[각주:82] absorbs more CO{-2} than it releases. All these efforts and more - including research into "solar geoengineering^[각주:83]" to reflect sunlight back into space - should be redoubled^[각주:84]. 

Blood, sweat and geoengineers

Yet none of these fixes will come to much unless climate listlessness^[각주:85] is tackled head on^[각주:86]. Western countries grew wealthy on^[각주:87] a carbon-heavy diet of^[각주:88] industrial development. They must honor their commitment in^[각주:89] the Paris agreement to help poorer places both adapt to a warmer Earth ^[각주:90]and also abate future emissions without^[각주:91] sacrificing the growth needed to leave poverty behind^[각주:92]. 

Averting climate change^[각주:93] will come at a short-term financial cost - although the shift from carbon may eventually enrich the economy^[각주:94], as the move to carbon-burning cars, lorries and electricity did in the 20th century. Politicians have an essential role to play in making the case for reform and in ensuring that the most vulnerable do not bear the brunt of the change^[각주:95]. Perhaps global warming will help them fire up^[각주:96] the collective will^[각주:97]. Sadly, the world looks poised to get a lot hotter first^[각주:98]. 

1. smoulder (英) (美 smol·der) ; [V] 1. [자동사] (불이 불꽃은 없이 서서히) 타다 [본문으로]
2. swathe ; [명사] (swath[swɒθ; 美 swɑːθ]) (격식) 1. <풀농작물 등을 베어 낸 기다란 띠 모양의 땅> ;; 2. <기다란 띠 모양의 것지역> [본문으로]
3. sweep through[away] ; [명사] ∼을 휩쓸다[일소하다] (cf. sweep-swept-swept) [본문으로]
4. suffocate ; [자동사] 2. 숨 막히다, 목메다, 헐떡이다, 숨차다, 숨쉬기 어렵다 [본문으로]
5. heatwave ; [NOUN] A heatwave is a period of time during which the weather is much hotter than usual. [본문으로]
6. push ; 3. [타동사][VN + adv. / prep.] (특정 수준상태가 되도록) 밀고 나가다[영향을 미치다] [본문으로]
7. calamity ; [C, U] (pl. -ies) 재앙, 재난 ;; 참고 disaster, misfortune, misery [본문으로]
8. freakish ; 1. 변덕스러운, 이랬다저랬다 하는, 괴팍한(capricious, whimsical, eccentric). ;; 2. 기형적인, 괴상한, 진기한(odd, grotesque). [본문으로]
9. commonplace ; [형용사] 1. 평범한(ordinary), 흔한, 보통의, 하잘것없는 ;; 2. 진부한, 흔해 빠진 [본문으로]
10. furnace ; 1. 노(爐), 난방로; 용광로 ;; 2. 몹시 더운 곳, 초열지옥 ;; 3. 시련의 장소; 혹독한 시련 ;; 미국식 [ˈfɜːrnɪs] 영국식 [ˈfɜːnɪs] [본문으로]
11. berserk ; [대개 명사 앞에는 안 씀] 1. (화가 나서) 미쳐 날뛰는, 길길이 뛰는 ;; 2. (흥분하여) 펄쩍펄쩍 뛰는 [본문으로]
12. sweltering ; 1. 더위 먹은, 더위에 지친 ;; 2. 무더운 ;; 3. [부사적으로] 찌는 듯이 [본문으로]
13. -induced ; [COMB in ADJ] -induced combines with nouns to form adjectives which indicate that a state, condition, or illness is caused by a particular thing. [본문으로]
14. evident ; 1. 명백한, 분명한[to, from, in]. ; 동의어 CLEAR ;; 2. 아무래도[어쩐지] …한, 그럴듯한, 분명히 (그것이라고) 알 수 있는. [본문으로]
15. scale ; 1. [sing., U] ~ (of sth) (특히 다른 것과 비교해서 본) 규모[범위] ;; 참고 ; full-scale, large-scale, small-scale [본문으로]
16. preindustrial ; [형용사] 산업화 이전의; 산업 혁명 전의 ;; [ADJ] Pre-industrial refers to the time before machines were introduced to produce goods on a large scale. [본문으로]
17. subsidy ; [C, U] (pl. -ies) (국가·기관이 제공하는) 보조금[장려금] [본문으로]
18. renewable resources 를 줄여서 그냥 renewables 로 사용한 것을 확인 [본문으로]
19. dwindle ; [자동사][V] ~ (away) (to sth) (점점) 줄어들다 [본문으로]
20. stall ; 4. 교착 상태에 빠뜨리다, 지연시키다; 교착 상태에 빠지다, 지연되다 ;; [VERB] If a process stalls, or if someone or something stalls it, the process stops but may continue at a later time. [본문으로]
21. unpopular ; 인기 없는, 인망이 없는, 평판이 좋지 못한; 유행하지 않는 ((with, among)) ;; [ADJ] If something or someone is unpopular, most people do not like them. [본문으로]
22. tempt to ; (~할) 생각이 나게 하다 [본문으로]
23. a temporary setback ; 일시적인 걸림돌[곤란] [본문으로]
24. self-preservation ; [U] 자기 보호 ;; 참고 the instinct of self-preservation 자기 보호 본능 [본문으로]
25. muddle through ; 그럭저럭[어떻게 하다 보니] 해 내다 ;; [VERB] to succeed in some undertaking in spite of lack of organization [본문으로]
26. surge ; 3. [자동사] (물가수익 등이) 급등[급증]하다 ; 참고 upsurge ;; 4. [자동사] (전류전압이) 갑자기 높아지다 [본문으로]
27. pass ; 7. [타동사][VN] (양이 특정한 총량을) 넘다 ;; 동의어 ; exceed [본문으로]
28. blustery ; [형용사] 날씨가 바람이 거센 ;; 참고 stormy, swaggering ;; [ADJ] Blustery weather is rough, windy, and often rainy, with the wind often changing in strength or direction. [본문으로]
29. (a) public concern ; 대중의 관심. [본문으로]
30. pick up ; 1. 회복되다[개선되다]; 더 강해지다 ; 참고 ; pickup ;; 2. (비격식) 다시 시작하다; 계속하다 [본문으로]
31. inspire ; 3. [타동사][VN] ~ sb (with sth) | ~ sth (in sb) (감정 등을) 불어넣다[고취시키다] [본문으로]
32. talk of ; 1. …에 관해 이야기하다; …의 소문을 이야기하다 ;; 2. …할 생각[작정]이라고 말하다 [본문으로]
33. divest ; 2. <권리·계급 등을 …에게서> 빼앗다(deprive) ((of)); 제거하다(rid) ((of)); [법] <권리·재산 등을> 박탈하다 ;; 3. <사람으로부터> (책임 등을) 없애다; <사람을> (의무 등으로부터) 벗어나게 하다 ;; 4. (상업) <자회사·지주 회사 등을> 매각[분리]하다 [본문으로]
34. reaffirm ; [타동사][VN] (무엇이 사실임을) 재차 확인[확언]하다 [본문으로]
35. commitment ; 1. [C, U] ~ (to sb/sth) | ~ to do sth 약속; 전념 ;; 2. [U] ~ (to sb/sth) 헌신 ;; 3. [C] 약속(한 일); 책무 ;; 4. [U, C] ~ (of sth) (to sth) (돈·시간·인력의) 투입 [본문으로]
36. averse ; [형용사] [명사 앞에는 안 씀] 2. ~ to sth/to doing sth (격식) ~을 싫어하는[반대하는] ;; 미국식 [əˈvɜːrs] 영국식 [əˈvɜːs] [본문으로]
37. shroud ; [VN] [주로 수동태로] (~ sth in sth) 1. [타동사] (어둠구름천 등이) 뒤덮다, 가리다 [본문으로]
38. choke on ; …으로 질식하다, …이 목에 걸리다. [본문으로]
39. fumes (드물게 fume [U]) ; [pl.] (유독) 가스, 매연 [본문으로]
40. prompt ; [타동사] 1. 자극하다, 고무하다, 촉진하다, 부추기다 ;; incite, instigate, inspire [본문으로]
41. electrify ; [타동사] 4. 전력을 공급하다 [본문으로]
42. decarbonization ; [명사] 탄소 제거, 탈(脫)탄소 [본문으로]
43. within reach ; 손이 닿는 곳에, 힘이 미치는 곳에 ;; 흐름상 possible,feasible, workable 정도의 의미 [본문으로]
44. allow for ; …을 위해 감안하다, …으로 잡아두다. ;; to include something when you are calculating something or planning something [본문으로]
45. complexity ; 2. [pl.] complexities 복잡한 특징들 [본문으로]
46. soar ; [자동사] 4. (물가 따위가) 치솟다; (온도 등이) 급상승하다[to]. ;; 5. (희망·사상 등이) 솟구치다, 높아지다. [본문으로]
47. forge ahead (with sth) ; [동사] 서서히 선두로 나서다; 피치를 올리다.;; 빠르게 나아가다; 빠른 진전을 보이다 ;; 동의어 ; take the lead; push on. [본문으로]
48. hook up to sth ; to become connected to the Internet, a telephone system etc [본문으로]
49. grid ; 4. (특히 英) (전기·가스 등의 공급용) 배전관[망] [본문으로]
50. pull back from ; …에서 물러나다, …을 삼가다. [본문으로]
51. behemoth ; [명사] (격식) 거대 기업[조직체] ;; 미국식 [-mɔːθ] 영국식 [bɪˈhiːmɒθ; ˈbiːhɪmɒθ] ;; [NOUN] If you refer to something as a behemoth, you mean that it is extremely large, and often that it is is unpleasant, inefficient, or difficult to manage. [본문으로]
52. compelling ; [형용사] 1. (너무나 흥미로워서) 주목하지 않을 수 없는[눈을 뗄 수 없는] ;; 2. 강렬한 ;; 3. 설득력 있는, 강력한 [본문으로]
53. inertia ; [U] 1. (보통 못마땅함) 무력; 타성 ;; 2. (물리) 관성 ;; 미국식 [-ɜːrʃə] 영국식 [ɪˈnɜːʃə] [본문으로]
54. wean ; 2. …에서 떼어놓다 ((away, off; from)), 버리게 하다 ;; wean sb from[off] sth ;; 미국∙영국 [wiːn] [본문으로]
55. entrench ; [타동사][VN] [주로 수동태로] (때로 못마땅함) (변경이 어렵도록) 단단히 자리 잡게 하다 [본문으로]
56. energy mix ; The range of energy sources of a region, either renewable or non-renewable. [본문으로]
57. reshape ; [타동사][VN] 모양[구조]을 고치다, 개장[개조]하다 ; [VERB] To reshape something means to change its structure or organization. [본문으로]
58. 참고 ; take years off sb ; ~에게 더 젊어졌다는 느낌을 갖게 하다[~를 더 젊어 보이게 만들다] [본문으로]
59. ignite ; [자, 타동사] 불을 붙이다[이 붙다]; 발화시키다[하다]; 고도로 가열시키다[가열되다] ;; [VERB] When you ignite something or when it ignites, it starts burning or explodes. [본문으로]
60. underpin ; (underpinned ; - pinning) 1. …의 토대를 바꾸다, 기초를 보강하다 ; 기초의 일부를 만들다. ;; 2. …을 떠받치다(support), 지지하다, 입증하다 [본문으로]
61. panjandrum ; [명사] (경멸) 대장, 두목, 높으신 분, 어르신네 ;; 미국·영국 [pændƷǽndrəm] ;; [NOUN] a pompous self-important official or person of rank [본문으로]
62. keen ; [형용사] (keener, keenest) 1. ~ (to do sth) | ~ (that…) | ~ (on doing sth) (특히 英) 간절히 …하고 싶은, …을 열망하는 동의어 eager [본문으로]
63. countenance ; 문어 1. <사람·행동 등에 대해> 호의를 보이다, 찬성하다, 장려하다 ;; 2. 묵인하다, 허용하다 ;; [VERB] If someone will not countenance something, they do not agree with it and will not allow it to happen. [본문으로]
64. lest ; (격식 또는 문예체) 1. …하지 않도록 ;; 2. …할까 봐(특정한 감정의 원인을 나타냄) ;; 동의어 ; in case [본문으로]
65. cripple ; 2. 심각한 손상을 주다, 제대로 기능을 못 하게 만들다 [본문으로]
66. lend ; (lent, lent[lent]) 1. ~ (out) sth (to sb) | ~ (sb) sth 빌려주다 동의어 loan ;; 2. ~ sth (to sb) | ~ (sb) sth (은행·금융기관에서) (돈을) 빌려주다, 대출하다 동의어 loan , 참고 borrow [본문으로]
67. strip ; [타동사] 2. …에게서 빼앗다, 약탈[박탈]하다; 제거하다, 비우다[of]. [본문으로]
68. beyond ; [전치사] 3. [정도·한도] …의 범위를 넘어서; …이상으로; …보다 뛰어나서 ;; 4. …이상으로(more than) ; …을 능가하여(surpassing) ; …이상은, …이외는(except). [본문으로]
69. power generation ; [명사] (전기공학) 발전(發電) [본문으로]
70. transport ; 1. [U] (美 주로 transportation) (특히 英) 수송, 참고 public transport ;; 3. [U] (transportation 美, 英) (특히 英) 운송, 수송, 운송업 [본문으로]
71. vested interest ; 3. [pl.] 국가의 경제 활동을 지배하는 개인[단체] [본문으로]
72. turn out[prove] to be… ;; 판가름이 나다, ~로 밝혀지다, ~로 드러나다 [본문으로]
73. illusory ; [형용사] (격식) (실제가 아니라) 환상에 불과한 ;; 미국∙영국 [ɪˈluːsəri] ;; [ADJ] If you describe something as illusory, you mean that although it seems true or possible, it is in fact false or impossible. [본문으로]
74. oomph ; [U] (비격식) 정력; 특별한 매력 ;; 미국∙영국 [ʊmf] [본문으로]
75. fuel-efficient ; [형용사] <자동차 등이> 저연비의, 연료 효율이 좋은 [본문으로]
76. petrol ; [U] 휘발유 ;; 참고 diesel [본문으로]
77. scrub ; [타동사] (~bed; ~·bing) 1. 북북 문지르다[씻다, 빨다]; 비벼 빨다; (솔 등으로) 문지르다, <때 등을> 북북 문질러 없애다 ((off, away, out)) ;; 2. <불순물을> 없애다, 제거하다; 세정(洗淨)하다; 세척하다(cleanse); (수술 전에) <외과 의사·간호사가> (손·팔을) 씻다 ((up)) [본문으로]
78. target ; [명사] 2. 목적(물), 도달 목표, 목표액. [본문으로]
79. price ; 1. [타동사] [주로 수동태로] ~ sth (at sth) 값[가격]을 매기다[정하다] [본문으로]
80. beaver away (at sth) ; to work very hard at something [본문으로]
81. sturdy ; (stur·dier, stur·di·est) 1. (물건이) 튼튼한, 견고한 ;; 동의어 robust [본문으로]
82. production ; 3. 제품, 저작[제작]물, 작품; (연구의) 결과 [본문으로]
83. geoengineering ; (경제) 지구공학 ;; 인류의 필요에 맞도록 지구의 환경을 대규모로 변화시키는 공학 기술이다. 대기-땅-바다로 이어지는 지구의 온도 순환 시스템에 개입하고 온난화 속도를 늦추는 데 사용된다. 대기 중에 미세 입자를 뿌리고, 지구 궤도에 거대 거울을 설치해 햇빛을 차단하거나, 대기 중 이산화탄소를 분리해 심해나 암반에 저장하는 등의 기술이 제안되고 있다. [본문으로]
84. redouble ; [타동사][VN] (노력 등을) 배가(倍加)[강화]하다 [본문으로]
85. listlessness ; [명사] 마음 내키지 않음; 노곤함; 무관심함. [본문으로]
86. head on ; 이물[차의 앞쪽]을 앞으로 하고; 정면으로, 똑바로 [본문으로]
87. grow wealthy[rich] ; 부를 이루다[쌓다] [본문으로]
88. diet ; 3. [sing.] a ~ of sth (못마땅함) (제한된 범위에 국한된, 활동의) 많은 양 [본문으로]
89. honor[meet] one's commitment(s) ;; 약속한 일을 하다, 의무를 다하다 [본문으로]
90. adapt to ; ~에 적응하다 [본문으로]
91. abate ; [타동사] (격식) (강도가) 약해지다; (강도를) 약화시키다[줄이다] ;; 미국∙영국 [əˈbeɪt] [본문으로]
92. leave sth behind ; …을 놓아 둔 채 잊고 오다, 뒤에 남기다 [본문으로]
93. avert ; 1. [타동사] 방지하다, 피하다 ;; 2. [타동사] ~ your eyes, gaze, face (from sth) (~에서) 눈[얼굴]을 돌리다[외면하다] [본문으로]
94. enrich ; 1. [타동사] ~ sth (with sth) 질을 높이다, 풍요롭게 하다; (식품에 어떤 영양소를) 강화하다 ;; 2. [타동사] (더) 부유하게 만들다 ;; [VERB] To enrich something means to improve its quality, usually by adding something to it. [본문으로]
95. bear[take] the brunt of ;; [비판·공격 따위]에 정면으로 맞서다 ;; …의 타격을 가장 많이 받다, 정면에서 공격당하다. [본문으로]
96. fire sb/sth up ; to make somebody/something become excited or enthusiastic about something [본문으로]
97. collective ; [주로 명사 앞에 씀] 1. 집단의, 단체의 ;; 2. 공동의, 공통의 [본문으로]
98. be poised to do ; …할 만반의 태세를 갖추고 있다, …할 것을 각오하고 있다 ;; 미국·영국 [pɔɪz] [본문으로]