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タイ在住11年目、妻はタイ人、娘が2人、養女が2人

The Yomiuri Shimbun
Climate change adaptation measures vital to counter flooding, heatstroke
温暖化適応計画　洪水や熱中症の対策が急務だ

The government has decided on a climate change adaptation plan that incorporates the potential effect of global warming by the end of this century and the measures it plans to take over the next 10 years.
　政府が、今世紀末までの温暖化の影響予測と、今後１０年間で取り組むべき対策を盛り込んだ「適応計画」を決定した。

Advance in global warming will have far-reaching consequences on our daily lives. To reduce the damage as much as possible, it is important to work out effective countermeasures and steadily carry them out.
　地球温暖化が進めば、日常生活の広範囲に影響が及ぶ。被害を少しでも減らすため、効果的な対策を見極め、着実に進めることが重要だ。

The global average temperature has risen by about 1 C compared to the period prior to the Industrial Revolution, which began in the mid-18th century.
　世界全体の平均気温は、１８世紀半ばからの産業革命の前より、約１度上昇している。

The international community has taken measures against global warming, mainly by reducing emissions of greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide.
　国際社会の温暖化対策は、二酸化炭素など温室効果ガスの排出抑制を主眼にしてきた。

Countries have set targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Even if these targets are met, however, global warming will not be curbed sufficiently, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development says in a projection.
各国は削減目標を掲げているが、それが達成されても、温暖化を十分には抑えられないと、経済協力開発機構（ＯＥＣＤ）は試算している。

Adjusting our society to global warming will become more important.
　温暖化に社会を順応させる重要性は一層、高まろう。

In the adaptation plan, three ministries — the Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Ministry, the Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Ministry and the Environment Ministry — assessed the seriousness of the environmental impact on various sectors and the urgency of measures, and proposed how to deal with it from this point onward.
適応計画では、国土交通、農林水産、環境の３省を中心に、各分野の影響の重大性や対策の緊急性などを評価し、今後の対処法を示した。

In regard to natural disasters, measures deemed most urgent are those needed to deal with flooding. Torrential rain similar to one which caused the banks of the Kinugawa river to collapse in Ibaraki Prefecture last month is expected to occur more frequently.
　自然災害の面で、最も緊急性が高いのが、洪水対策だ。９月に茨城県の鬼怒川で決壊を引き起こしたような豪雨は、今以上に頻繁になると予想される。

The adaptation plan cites the reinforcement of river embankments to prolong the time before a bank is breached. This can be taken as a measure to mitigate damage.
　適応計画は、堤防強化の目的について、「決壊するまでの時間を引き延ばす」ことを挙げた。減災を前提にした対策だと言える。

It is vital for local governments to prepare evacuation plans on the basis of the projected extent of damage in their areas so that residents can evacuate safely while an embankment holds.
　堤防が持ちこたえている間に住民が避難できるよう、自治体が、被害の広がりを予測した避難計画を整備することが欠かせない。

Health care steps needed

Health care measures are also important. The risk of heatstroke in the middle of this century will almost double compared to the end of the 20th century. As the adaptation plan stresses, such means as using robots to reduce human labor in sweltering heat will be needed.
　健康面での対策も大切だ。今世紀半ばの熱中症のリスクは、２０世紀末の約２倍になる。適応計画が指摘するように、ロボットを活用し、炎天下の作業を省力化するといった工夫が求められる。

As the habitats of mosquitoes and other organisms transmitting infectious diseases spread, it is also necessary to take countermeasures to eradicate the larvae of these species at their source.
　感染症を媒介する蚊などの生息域が拡大することから、幼虫の発生源対策なども必要になる。

Adverse effects of global warming have been seen in the farming sector with paddy field rice and fruit-bearing trees showing poor growth, and the taste of the food is less palatable. Developing more heat-tolerant varieties such as those the adaptation plan advocates should be accelerated.
　農林水産業では既に、水稲や果樹の育ちが悪くなり、味が落ちる悪影響が生じている。適応計画が掲げた暑さに強い品種の開発を加速させるべきだ。

With the rise in temperature, there will be areas where such new crops as oranges and mangoes can be grown. It may be necessary for the government to adopt unconventional ideas to deal with the impact of global warming and promote local economies.
　気温の上昇で、オレンジやマンゴーなど、新たな作物を栽培できるようになる地域もあろう。温暖化を地域振興につなげる「逆転の発想」も必要ではないか。

It should be noted that proceeding with these measures must be carried out by making good use of a limited budget. They should be advanced by assessing their priority on the basis of scientific evidence.
　対策を進める上で、留意すべきは、限られた予算を効果的に使うことだ。科学的根拠を基に優先度を判断して進めねばならない。

The government will present its adaptation plan at the meeting of the 21st round of the Conference of the Parties to the U.N. Framework on Climate Change (COP21), to be held in Paris from the end of next month. Japan should proactively transmit information which can be helpful to developing countries that frequently suffer from extensive flood damage.
　政府は、１１月末からパリで開かれる国連気候変動枠組み条約の第２１回締約国会議（ＣＯＰ２１）で適応計画を報告する。洪水被害が多い途上国などの参考となるよう積極的に発信していきたい。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 26, 2015)