Climate change: Islands at risk 氣候變化：英國尤伊斯特群島處境堪憂

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What kind of weather are these islands exposed to?

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On the edge of the Atlantic, islands which in parts seem as much water as they are land. Experts say the Uists [in the UK] are on the front line of climate change… and some of those who call this home are already adapting to their shifting landscape.

坐落在大西洋邊緣的這些島嶼，一部分看起來已經水陸相間。專傢指出，英國尤伊斯特群島處於氣候變化的最前線，這裡的部分島民已經在為適應不斷變化的環境做出改變。

Donald MacPhee, crofter
We seem to be getting a lot more rain – very unpredictable, whereas back in my father’s days you could guarantee that you’d have plenty of dry weather in August, September. But now it’s very unpredictable.

唐納德·麥克菲傢庭小農場主
“我們這裡的降雨量似乎更多瞭，非常變幻莫測，在我父親的年代，八、九月份的天氣總是會很幹燥。但現在則變得難以捉摸。”

And that’s not the only challenge facing these islands which are so exposed to wet and stormy weather.

但是這些島嶼所面臨的挑戰不止於此，還包括潮濕的氣候和暴風雨。

Professor Stewart Angus, Coastal Ecologist, NatureScot
A lot of the land actually lies below the level of the sea for much of the tidal cycle. Secondly, you have rising sea levels. Thirdly, you have rising rainfall in winter. And you have the difficulty in a very low-lying environment of getting rid of that water.

斯圖爾特·安格斯教授自然蘇格蘭（NatureScot）海岸生態學傢
“在潮汐周期大部分時間，很多陸地其實都位於海平面以下。其次，海平面在上升。第三，冬天降雨量增加。另外，在非常低窪的環境中很難排出這些水。”

The airport here provides a lifeline service to islanders. A million pounds has been spent on the latest work to protect the runway, which ends just metres from the shore.

這裡的機場是島民與外界聯系的命脈。最新的工程耗資一百萬英鎊，以保護距離海岸僅數米遠的跑道。

Lorna Gordon, AYYBLOG Scotland correspondent
This low-lying watery landscape is vulnerable to changes in our climate – with predictions that the sea level here could rise by as much as half a metre over the next few decades.

洛娜·戈登 AYYBLOG駐蘇格蘭通訊員
“這個低窪多水的環境很容易受到氣候變化的影響。據預測，未來幾十年內，這裡的海平面可能會上升半米之多。”

At the islands’ arts centre, a visual reminder of what the long-term effects could be.

在島嶼藝術中心建築上，這條線形象地展現瞭氣候變化可能帶來的長期影響。

Andy Mackinnon, Taigh Chearsabhagh Arts Centre
So, the line represents a nominal level that the sea will rise to. I hope that it does make people think about what we’re doing.

安迪·戈登 Taigh Chearsabhagh 藝術中心
“所以，這條線象征性地代表海平面將會上升到的水平。我希望這能促使大傢思考我們的所作所為。”

And from the children here, out taking care of their local beach, messages in English and Gaelic of their hopes and fears are being sent to the climate summit in Glasgow.

這裡的孩子們正在打掃當地的海灘，用英語和蓋爾語向格拉斯哥氣候峰會傳達瞭他們的希望和擔憂。

Stop sea levels rising. We could be under the water soon.

“請阻止海平面上升。我們可能很快就會被海水淹沒。”

These small islands, hoping for big commitments from world leaders to mitigate the worst that climate change might bring.

這些小島上的居民希望世界領導人作出重大承諾，減輕氣候變化可能帶來的最壞後果。