VOA慢速英語: 各國著手應(yīng)對氣候變化

Nations Preparing to Deal with Climate Change

各國著手應(yīng)對氣候變化

Nations Preparing to Deal with Climate Change

In 2014, the United Nations released a series of climate reports that showed temperatures on Earth are rising. That is the bad news. The good news is that countries are working together to fight climate change.

2014年，聯(lián)合國發(fā)布的一系列氣候報告表明全球氣溫持續(xù)上升。這是個壞消息，好消息是各國正在努力共同應(yīng)對氣候變化。

Experts say a two-degree rise in temperature above pre-industrial times will cause serious damage that cannot be reversed. The pre-industrial period ended in the middle of the 18th century. That was followed by the Industrial Revolution, when machines and new manufacturing processes were created.

專家稱前工業(yè)時代氣溫升高兩度會造成不可逆轉(zhuǎn)的嚴(yán)重危害。前工業(yè)時代結(jié)束于18世紀(jì)中期。緊接著而來的是工業(yè)革命，創(chuàng)造新機(jī)器和新工廠。

Michael Oppenheimer is a professor of geosciences and international affairs at Princeton University in New Jersey. He says air pollution emissions must be reduced before temperatures rise.

邁克爾·奧本海默是新澤西州普林斯頓大學(xué)地理科學(xué)和國際事務(wù)方面的專家。他說氣溫再次上升前必須減少空氣污染物排放。

“That makes it incumbent upon governments to get moving quickly, which is why there's so much focus on the meeting in Lima and the meeting a year from now that's planned for Paris.”

“污染問題迫使各政府勢在必行采取一些措施，這就是為什么那么多人關(guān)注利馬會議和一年后在巴黎召開的會議。”

The recent United Nations talks in Peru were designed to prepare officials for a meeting in Paris, France later this year. Many nations will sign a global climate agreement at that meeting.

在秘魯召開的聯(lián)合國氣候變化太會為今年晚些時候法國巴黎的會議做準(zhǔn)備。會上多個國家會簽署一份針對全球氣候變化協(xié)議。

The agreement reached in Peru is different from earlier agreements. Developing countries like China and India are promising to join richer countries in reducing emissions. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said developing nations are having a large effect on the environment.

在秘魯達(dá)成的這項協(xié)議與先前的協(xié)議不同。像中國和印度這樣的發(fā)展中國家在減少污染排放方面有望加入富國行列。美國國務(wù)卿約翰·凱瑞說發(fā)展中國家對環(huán)境的影響非常大。

“More than half of global emissions -- more than half -- are coming from developing nations. So it is imperative that they act, too.”

“全球一半多的污染物排放來自發(fā)展中國家，因此，發(fā)展中國家必須采取行動。”

Chinaand the United States acted -- they signed an agreement. American officials said the U.S. would reduce emissions between 26 and 28 percent by 2025. China said it would begin reducing emissions in 2030.

中國和美國已經(jīng)采取行動——他們簽署一份協(xié)議。美國官員稱到2025年，美國污染物排放會減少26%—28%。中國在2030年會開始減少排放。

Michael Oppenheimer says other countries will release their environmental plans early this year. He says negotiators continue to discuss details of the agreement before the conference opens in Paris. But he says he hopes people understand that an agreement is just the beginning of efforts to reduce global warming.

邁克爾·奧本海默說今年早些時候其他國家也會公布他們針對環(huán)境的計劃。他說在巴黎會議召開前，談判各國會繼續(xù)討論協(xié)議的細(xì)節(jié)。不過他希望人們能夠明白簽署協(xié)議只是減少全球變暖做出的努力的一個開始。

“No matter what comes out of Paris, it's important that this problem be revisited continually to make sure that countries are living up to their commitments. And that means active and engaged citizenries in all these countries have to push, push, push on their governments.”

“不管巴黎會議上會有什么結(jié)果，應(yīng)對氣候變化的問題會持續(xù)的討論，直到各國履行其承諾。這就意味著所有參加會議的與會者都要推動政府去實(shí)施行動。”

Professor Oppenheimer says if countries do not take action the planet will become warmer faster than at any time in the history of civilization.

奧本海默教授稱如果各國不采取任何行動，地球會比以往任何歷史文明時期變暖的速度都要快。

I’m Christopher Cruise.

我是克里斯托弗·格魯斯。

VOA’s Rosanne Skirble prepared this report. Christopher Cruise wrote the story for VOA Learning English. George Grow was the editor.

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Words in This Story

reversed - v. to cause something such as a process to stop or return to an earlier state

emissions – n. something sent out or given off

incumbent upon – idiomatic. to be necessary for someone

imperative – adj. very important

revisited – v. to think about or look at (something) again

citizenries/citizenry – n. all the citizens of a place (usually singular)

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