VOA慢速英语:Experts Meet in Rome to Discuss Cleaner and Greener Information and Communication Technologi

Technology experts, government officials, policy makers and engineers are meeting this week in Italy. They have gathered in Rome for the first Green Standards Week conference.
技术专家，政府官员，决策者和工程师本周在意大利召开会议。他们齐聚罗马参加第一届绿色标准周会议。

Italy’s Ministry of Economic Development and the International Telecommunications Union organized the conference. The event calls attention to the need for information and communication technologies to fight climate change and to build greener, more environmentally-friendly economies.
意大利经济发展部和国际电信联盟(ITU)组织联合举办了此次会议。该会议呼吁人们重视使用信息通信技术来应对气候变化的必要性，创建更加绿色，更加环保的经济。

In recent years, the world has changed because so many people now use computers, mobile phones and other kinds of electronic devices. But the increasing use of information and communication technologies, also known as ICTs, also has led to more pollution, especially greenhouse gas emissions. This is mostly because of the energy used to manufacture, transport and operate such equipment. Still, many experts say ICTs offer the best chance for reducing greenhouse gases.
近年来，世界已经因为许多人使用电脑，手机和其他各类电子设备而发生变化。但是信息通信技术(ICTs)越来越多的实用导致了更多污染，特别是温室气体的排放。这主要是因为用来生产，运输和操作这种设备所使用的能源。尽管如此，许多专家称，信息通信技术为减少温室气体排放提供了最好的机会。

The Global Information Society Watch reported last year that ICTs could help to cut total production of greenhouse gases by as much as fifteen percent by twenty twenty.
全球信息社会观察组织于去年报告称，到2020年之前，信息通信技术可以帮助温室气体总量减少15%。

Alan Finlay is with the Association for Progressive Communications. He also helped to prepare the GISWatch report. He says the effect of using ICTs to build cleaner environments is far more powerful than their harmful effects.
Alan Finlay是进步通讯协会(Association for Progressive Communication)工作人员。他还帮助准备了GISWatch的报告。他说，利用信息通信技术来创建更加清洁的环境的影响远远超过有害的影响。

ALAN FINLAY: “When you’re look at greening with ITs, you’re looking at the impact of ICTs on the environment but also what ICTs can be used in order to improve the impact of other industries on the environment. And I think the overwhelming consensus is that you can’t throw the baby out with the bath water. And ICTs can do more good in a sort of macro context.”
Alan Finlay：“你看到利用信息通信技术来绿化的时候，你看到的是信息通信技术对环境的影响，以及信息通信技术可以怎样改善其他行业对环境的影响。我认为，普遍的共识是，你不能全盘否定。信息通信技术在宏观背景下可以做更多有益的事情。”

Mr. Finlay says the GISWatch report and events like the ITU’s Green Standards Week are meant to look at the ICT industry as a whole.
Finlay先生说，GISWatch报告和国际电联的绿色标准周会议等盛事就是为了将信息通信技术行业作为一个整体来看。

ALAN FINLAY: “To our mind you can’t really divorce issues like e-waste --- which you see the massive negative consequences in Asia for instance, and direct impact on poor people’s lives and well being --- from the equation. So, both need to be looked at the same time.
ALAN FINLAY：“在我们看来，你不能把电子垃圾——例如，在亚洲看到的大规模负面影响，以及和对贫困人口的生活和福祉的直接影响分开来看。所以，两者需要同时来看。”

The ITU says a main goal of the conference is to set clear policies for measuring and improving the ICT industry’s effect on the environment. Another goal is to note the importance of green ICT standards and values.
国际电联称，这次会议的一个主要目的就是制定衡量和改善信息通信技术行业对环境影响的明确政策。另外一个目的是指出绿色信息通信技术标准和价值的重要性。

The Rome meeting is taking place less than three months before the United Nations Climate Change Conference opens in Durban, South Africa.
罗马会议的召开距离将在南非德班举行的联合国气候变化大会还有不到三个月的时间。