> 'Silver economy' offers great biz potential
中國“銀發經濟”蘊含巨大發展機遇

China has seen new growth opportunities arising from its aging populace, and its latest decision to promote the "silver economy" will significantly address the needs of the graying demographic and inject new impetus into the economy, officials said on Monday.
國家發展改革委22日表示，中國從老齡化人口看到了新的發展機遇，新出臺的支持“銀發經濟”發展的文件將積極應對老齡化人口需求，為經濟注入新動能。

"The development of the silver economy is a powerful measure to drive high-quality development. It involves a wide range of fields with a long industrial chain and diverse types of businesses, covering the primary, secondary and tertiary industries. It creates new business opportunities," said Zhang Shixin, deputy secretary-general of the National Development and Reform Commission.
國家發展改革委副秘書長張世昕指出：“發展銀發經濟是推動高質量發展的有力舉措。銀發經濟涉及面廣、產業鏈長、業態多元，涵蓋一二三產業，孕育著新機遇。”

Zhang said at a news conference that the new move to boost the silver economy aims to respond to the core concerns of the elderly and boost their sense of well-being.
張世昕在新聞發布會上表示，推動銀發經濟發展的新舉措旨在回應老年人核心關切，提升老年人幸福感。

The State Council, China's Cabinet, recently released a guideline encouraging companies and industry participants in sectors such as healthcare, tourism and financial consultancy to optimize services and products for the elderly.
近期印發的《國務院辦公廳關于發展銀發經濟增進老年人福祉的意見》（下稱《意見》）鼓勵各行各業參與到醫療保健、銀發旅游、養老金融等領域，優化老年人產品和服務供給。

With a population of 1.41 billion, the nation is facing an increasingly serious aging issue.
總人口14.1億的中國正面臨日益嚴重的老齡化問題。

As of the end of 2022, China had more than 280 million people aged above 60, roughly 20 percent of the total population, according to the country's annual statistical communique regarding 2022 national economic and social development.
2022年國民經濟和社會發展統計公報顯示，截至2022年底，我國60歲及以上老年人口數量超過了2.8億，占比近20%。

He Yaqiong, head of the consumer products industry department at the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, highlighted the importance of closing the elderly digital divide, saying it will accelerate efforts to boost the development of the smart eldercare sector.
工業和信息化部消費品工業司司長何亞瓊指出了彌合老年人“數字鴻溝”的重要性，稱將加快培育壯大智慧養老產業。

The focus will be placed on fields including the internet plus healthcare, smart nursing homes and intelligent communities, he said.
他表示，工信部將重點發展互聯網+醫療健康、智慧養老院、智慧社區等領域。

> Extreme cold still happens in a warming world
全球變暖 極端寒冷事件依舊頻發

Extremely cold Arctic air and severe winter weather swept southward into much of the U.S. in mid-January 2024, breaking daily low temperature records from Montana to Texas.
2024年1月中旬，極端寒冷的北極氣流和惡劣的冬季天氣向南席卷了美國大部分地區，打破了從蒙大拿州到得克薩斯州的日最低氣溫紀錄。

Tens of millions of people were affected by dangerously cold temperatures, and heavy lake-effect snow and snow squalls have had severe effects across the Great Lakes and Northeast regions.
數千萬人受到危險低溫的影響，嚴重冷流降雪和暴風雪對五大湖和東北部地區造成了嚴重影響。

No single weather event can prove or disprove global warming.
任何單一的天氣事件都不能證明或否定全球變暖的事實。

Many studies have shown that the number of extreme cold events is clearly decreasing with global warming.
許多研究表明，隨著全球變暖，極端寒冷事件的數量明顯減少。

Whether global warming may, contrary to expectations, be playing some supporting role in the intensity of these events is an open question.
全球變暖是否會與預期相反，對這些事件的強度起到一定的輔助作用，這還是一個未解之謎。

Some research suggests it does.
盡管一些研究表明確實如此。

More recently, for large areas of the U.S., Europe and Northeast Asia, while the number of these severe cold events is clearly decreasing – as expected with global warming – it does not appear that their intensity is correspondingly decreasing, despite the rapid warming in their Arctic source regions.
最近，在美國、歐洲和東北亞的大部分地區，盡管這些嚴寒事件的數量明顯減少——符合全球變暖的預期——但其強度似乎并沒有因北極源頭地區的快速變暖而相應減弱。

So, while the world can expect fewer of these severe cold events in the future, many regions need to remain prepared for exceptional cold when it does occur.
因此，盡管全球可以預期未來此類嚴寒事件會減少，但許多地區仍需為可能出現的極端嚴寒天氣做好準備。

A better understanding of the pathways of influence between Arctic surface conditions, the stratospheric polar vortex and mid-latitude winter weather would improve our ability to anticipate these events and their severity.
更好地了解北極地表條件、平流層極地渦旋和中緯度冬季天氣之間的影響途徑，將提高人們預測這些事件及其嚴重性的能力。

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