A number of scientists are emphasizing the tremendous challenges that will soon be faced when the depletion [资源缺乏] of fossil fuel supplies coincides [同时发生] with an alarming increase [惊人的增长] in the global population. They highlight agriculture which is heavily dependent not only on gasoline to fuel machinery [机器], but also on the petrochemicals necessary to manufacture synthetic [人造的] fertilizers [肥料] and pesticides [杀虫剂]. Without these petrochemicals, crop yields would be only a fraction [少量] of what they are today. To assume that an abundant source of renewable energy will address [deal with it] this challenge is to ignore the vital [必不可少的] non-fuel uses of petrochemicals.
Then there is the challenge posed to the current levels of mobility [流动能力]. As a fuel, gasoline is unrivalled [无与伦比的] in its portability [便携性]. Electricity requires bulky [庞大的] batteries and hydrogen is notoriously [臭名昭著的] difficult to store. Biofuels might seem like an alternative [替代], but the energy consumed when converting corn into bioethanol [生物酒精], for instance, greatly exceeds the output when the fuel is utilized [利用]. In any case, once we reach a crisis [危机] in the food supply, it will not make sense to divert [daɪˈvɜːt 转变] food crops to other uses.
Although there seems to be a widespread [广泛的] belief that the era of oil dependency is coming to an end due to some technological remedy [处理方法], this may be mistaken. Relying on such an assumption can lead to complacency [kəmˈpleɪsnsi 自满] and a failure to take precautions [prɪˈkɔːʃənz 预防措施]. Experts may not be able to come up with [提出] the kind of solution that can lead to a pain-free transition. Scientists warn that relying on alternative resources might only support half of the global population. The absence [缺乏] of realistic alternative to fossil fuels will mean that the first priority will be to curb [kɜːb 控制] the demand for food.
Speaking
Petrochemicals are used to manufacture pesticides which are important for agriculture.
Scientists warn that relying on alternative resources may cause food shortages.
Curbing the demand for food will require a reduction in the global birth rate.
To address a problem means...to deal with it.
