As the carbon countdown clock ticks on, cities must be more imaginative and cooperative, a lively round table hosted in Newham by a non-profit organization Friends of the Earth said.

“Net zero is around the corner,” said Mike Wake, Director of Friends of the Earth. “The UK has cut greenhouse gas emission (排放) by 40% to date mostly through the growth of large renewable generation on the grid (输电网), but further cuts will be needed as London tries to find new ways of using energy.

“While Newham has lower greenhouse gas emission per head than the UK, it has high levels of fuel poverty, poor air quality and leaky homes. Vastly improved energy efficiency, especially on older and leakier homes, along with more efficient forms of heating and an expansion of low carbon heat networks, will help,” said Wake.

“But the future requires a shift to a more communal solution,” the representatives said. District heating, which pipes hot water from a central source to connected homes or businesses, is often a cheaper and lower-carbon method of heating highly populated areas. “It’s the lowest cost and low carbon solution for the future,” Wake added.

“There are new technologies to use wasted heat,” Wake said. “We worked with businesses to decarbonise (使环保) energy supply. Rather than wasting, spare heat generated by manufacturing and other activities can be captured and used to heat nearby properties. Friends of the Earth has already helped save Newham thousands of tonnes of emissions through district heating plans, solar PV and more energy efficient measures in the homes.”

But the challenges are substantial. Newham has London’s second-highest rate of fuel poverty. “Anyway, I’m confident and hopeful about the collective challenge,” said Wake. “But for Newham to be at the forefront of a green economy, to solve fuel poverty and deal with structural equalities, we must spare no effort.”

【小题1】What does Wake think of cutting greenhouse gas emission in the UK?

A．It doesn’t work at all.	B．It ended a short time ago.
C．It is very difficult to continue.	D．It still needs to be improved.

【小题2】What does the underlined word “communal” in paragraph 4 mean?

A．Expensive.

B．Peaceful.

C．Public.

D．Complex.

【小题3】How did Friends of the Earth help protect the environment?

A．By releasing wasted heat.

B．By starting up many businesses.

C．By making national heating plans.

D．By solving the issues about energy.

【小题4】What is Wake’s attitude to the challenges of Newham?

A．Worried.

B．Positive.

C．Uncaring.

D．Critical.