首页
登录
职称英语
Europe, where the so-called population explosion got under way in the 18th c
Europe, where the so-called population explosion got under way in the 18th c
游客
2023-09-05
14
管理
问题
Europe, where the so-called population explosion got under way in the 18th century, is once again playing a pioneering role in demographic (人口的) development. The continent has the lowest fertility rate and the most elderly population in the world, and this population will soon start to shrink. All this makes it a front runner in a demographic trend that sooner or later will reach most of the world.
Pioneers have to advance through difficult terrain. Economists are already worrying about the problem of how social security systems will cope when the post-war baby boomers start collecting their pensions in 2015. In hyper-ageing countries like Italy and Germany, where 1 in 7 people will be over 80 in 2050, it is unclear how a shrinking group of young people can generate the wealth needed to support the growing group of elderly citizens. Europe’s competitiveness could fall behind younger and growing populations in other world regions.
On the face of it, fewer people seem like good news for the environment. The population of Germany, Europe’s most populous country, will shrink by at least 8 million by 2050 and this trend is set to be replicated in many of its neighbours. Remote rural areas, mainly in central and eastern Europe, might become depopulated over time. This should benefit biodiversity as displaced plant and animal species recolonise their old terrain. Given that the world population is still growing by about 200,000 people a day, and the ecological footprint of the human race already lies beyond the limits of sustainability, fewer European mega-consumers will be a blessing for the health of the planet.
But look a little deeper, and the picture becomes more complicated. Decreasing population does not necessarily promise environmental benefits. The cost per head of population for infrastructure such as sewage systems (污水管道系统) or electricity supply increases when population numbers go down, making clean water and non-polluting energy even more expensive than they are today.
So can Europe overcome its demographic and ecological challenges at the same time? The solution might be found in a rarely discussed concept: demographic sustainability.
High population growth, such as that now taking place in many African countries, is not sustainable. But very low fertility rates are unsustainable too. It will be hard for countries with persistently low fertility to remain competitive, creative and wealthy enough to keep ahead of their country’s environmental challenges. What is needed is a middle ground.
A demographically sustainable Europe needs to have a stable or slowly shrinking population as the existing infrastructure operates most efficiently when the number of inhabitants remains fairly constant. What would it take to achieve this? At present, the average fertility rate in Europe is 1.5 children per woman, and in countries below this line there is an urgent need for family policies to encourage women to have more children. Countries with fertility rates above 1.8, including France, the UK and Sweden, do not need further pro-birth policies as immigrations will fill the demographic gap. [br] The decreasing population in fact harms environment in that______.
选项
A、it makes clean water cheap
B、it lowers the competition
C、it increases the cost of infrastructure
D、it makes no full use of resources
答案
C
解析
第四段提到,人口减少并不一定会对环境有利。当人口下降,基础设施如污水管道系统或供电系统的人均成本会增加,使得净水及无污染能源比现在更昂贵。故答案为[C]。
转载请注明原文地址:https://tihaiku.com/zcyy/2986279.html
相关试题推荐
MorethantwomillionpeopleinEuropenowhavefibrebroadbanddirecttot
MorethantwomillionpeopleinEuropenowhavefibrebroadbanddirecttot
Peoplewithdisabilitiescomprisealargepartofthepopulation.Itis【C1】
Peoplewithdisabilitiescomprisealargepartofthepopulation.Itis【C1】
Peoplewithdisabilitiescomprisealargepartofthepopulation.Itis【C1】
Peoplewithdisabilitiescomprisealargepartofthepopulation.Itis【C1】
Peoplewithdisabilitiescomprisealargepartofthepopulation.Itis【C1】
Peoplewithdisabilitiescomprisealargepartofthepopulation.Itis【C1】
Peoplewithdisabilitiescomprisealargepartofthepopulation.Itis【C1】
Peoplewithdisabilitiescomprisealargepartofthepopulation.Itis【C1】
随机试题
If(keep)______inhumidcondition,themilkcan’tremainfreshforthreedays.
Nomatterhowfrequently_______,theworksofBeethovenalwaysattractlargeau
其他人可能会表现出胃痛或头痛等身体不适的症状。Othersmayfeelphysicalsymptoms,likestomachacheorhe
将双曲线C: 绕x轴旋转一周所生成的旋转曲面的方程是( )。
A.布地奈德吸入剂 B.沙丁胺醇吸入剂 C.茶碱缓释片 D.孟鲁斯特片剂
下列不属于五行之“火”的是A六腑之小肠 B五气之燥 C五脏之心 D五色之赤
Thechangeinthatvillagewasmiraculou
定期考核的结果影响着公务员的任职。导致按照规定程序降低公务员一个职务层次任职的定
期货交易所应当在每年度结束后20个工作日内,缴纳前一年度应当缴纳的期货投资者保障
枪击音和毛细血管搏动征最常见于A.甲状腺功能亢进症 B.二尖瓣关闭不全 C.
最新回复
(
0
)