2019 年 12 月真题（第三套）Are Microwave Ovens Cooking the Environment? 微波炉正在破坏环境吗？

Popping food into the microwave for a couple of minutes may seem utterly harmless, but Europe's stock of these quick-cooking ovens emit as much carbon as nearly 7 million cars, a new study has found.

And the problem is growing.

With costs falling and kitchen appliances becoming "status" items, owners are throwing away microwaves after an average of eight years.

This is pushing sales of new microwaves which are expected to reach 135 million annually in the EU by the end of the decade.

A study by the University of Manchester calculated the emissions of CO2 — the main greenhouse gas responsible for climate change — at every stage of microwaves, from manufacture to waste disposal.

"It is electricity consumption by microwaves that has the biggest impact on the environment," say the authors.

The authors also calculate that the emissions from using 19 microwaves over a year are the same as those from using a car.

According to the same study, efforts to reduce consumption should focus on improving consumer awareness and behaviour.

For example, consumers could use appliances in a more efficient way by adjusting the time of cooking to the type of food.

However, David Reay, professor of carbon management, argues that, although microwaves use a great deal of energy, their emissions are minor compared to those from cars.