Streaming Services and the Environment
上网也会污染环境？！流媒体服务和环境
A new study suggests that streaming services can lead to higher levels of greenhouse gas emissions. Researchers say the results depended, in part, on which technology was being used to send data.
一项新的研究表明，流媒体服务可能导致更高水平的温室气体排放。研究人员表示，结果部分取决于使用了哪种技术来发送数据。
The German government provided money for the study. Germany’s Federal Environment agency published a report on the findings.
德国政府为这项研究提供了资金。德国联邦环境局就调查结果发表了一份报告。
Many studies have linked “greenhouse gases,” such as carbon dioxide, to rising temperatures in Earth’s atmosphere. Greenhouse gases are a product of pollution from factories and other human activities.
许多研究已经将二氧化碳等“温室气体”与地球温度上升联系起来。温室气体是工厂和其他人类活动的污染产物。
Streaming services send videos, games, music and other material over the internet so that people can watch or listen to it immediately.
流媒体服务通过互联网发送视频、游戏、音乐和其他材料，以便人们可以立即观看或收听。
The researchers estimated the amount of carbon dioxide produced by data centers where material is stored for streaming. It also looked at the technology used to get the data to consumers.
研究人员估计了数据中心产生的二氧化碳量，这些数据中心储存的材料用于流动。它还研究了将数据传递给消费者的技术。
The report found that streaming video over fiber optic cables results in the lowest amount of carbon dioxide, or CO2 emissions — 2 grams per hour. Copper cables produced twice that amount. 3G mobile technology resulted in 90 grams of CO2 emissions per hour.
该报告发现，通过光纤传输的流媒体视频产生的二氧化碳含量最低——每小时2克。铜电缆的产量是这个数字的两倍。3G移动技术导致每小时排放90克二氧化碳。
The report said streaming over 5G, another wireless technology, would result in carbon dioxide emissions of 5 grams per hour.
该报告称，通过另一种无线技术5G流媒体将导致每小时排放5克二氧化碳。
Data centers were responsible for only a small amount of the energy used. But there were differences depending on how servers were used and cooled, the report noted.
数据中心只负责少量的能源消耗。但报告指出，根据服务器的使用和冷却方式，该结果也存在差异。
Christian Stoll, an energy expert, was not involved in the study. He said the report’s carbon dioxide estimates seemed reasonable. But he noted that the study did not consider how much electricity was taken by devices that were used to watch videos.
能源专家克里斯蒂安·斯托尔没有参与这项研究。他说，该报告对二氧化碳产出的估量似乎是合理的。但他指出，这项研究并没有考虑到观看视频的设备所消耗的电量。
Stoll noted that such devices “represent a significant part of the total emissions.”
斯托尔指出，这类设备“（二氧化碳）占总排放的很大一部分”。
Presenting the report, German Environment Minister Svenja Schulze said the study tried to give data to decision-makers at a time when digital issues are important. The timing, Shulze added, is also important as countries try to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases.
德国环境部长斯文贾·舒尔茨在提交报告时表示，该研究试图在数字问题非常重要的时候向决策者提供数据。舒尔茨补充说，在各国努力减少温室气体排放的时候，这个时机也很重要。
“It is possible to stream data without negatively impacting the climate if you do it right...” she said. Schulze suggested that it might “be a good idea to set up more public WiFi hotspots, as this is more climate-friendly than streaming in mobile networks.”
“如果你采用了正确的方法，流数据不对气候造成负面影响是有可能的……”她说。舒尔茨建议说，“建立更多的公共WiFi热点可能是个好主意，因为这比用移动网络使用流媒体更环保。”
I'm John Russell.
约翰·罗素报道。
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