2007年VOA标准英语-APEC Business Leaders Call for Action to Combat

By Nancy-Amelia Collins
Sydney
05 September 2007

Representatives from the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Business Advisory¹ Council wrapped up talks calling on APEC leaders to take urgent action to combat climate change. VOA's Nancy-Amelia Collins is in the Australian city Sydney where business leaders met ahead of this week's APEC leaders meeting.

Climate change topped the agenda of the three-day meeting of the APEC Business Advisory Council, known as ABAC.

"What ABAC is saying to those leaders is there is a real sense of urgency in the business community for the policy makers² to set clear rules," said Mark Johnson, the chairman of this year's ABAC meeting. "Consumers are going to have to change their behavior in response to the cost of climate change, and business is going to have to change its behavior very markedly."

According to ABAC, the 21 APEC economies account for some 60 percent of the world's greenhouse gas emissions³, thought to be a major contributor to global warming.

Johnson says business will have to invest in new technology to combat global warming.

"Business is going to have to invest in new technology for greater energy efficiency and it's going to have to invest in new technology to produce cleaner energy to do those things we need a clear, transparent⁴ framework, preferably a market framework that gives us clear price signals so that we know where to invest," said Johnson.

Another major topic at the ABAC meeting was trade liberalization negotiations⁵ under the World Trade Organization known as the Doha round.

The talks have stalled over disagreements on cutting agricultural barriers and increasing market access for manufactured goods.

Johnson says the APEC meeting is the last chance to revive the talks.

"Doha, while many people are getting tired of Doha, this is probably its last, best, and almost only chance … business, which looks for return on investment, is not getting very much of a return on its investment in Doha and if we don't see tangible⁶ progress, business will move on to alternatives," he said.

ABAC is made up of up to three members of the private sector⁷ of each of the 21 APEC economies. It is a permanent body aimed at providing an independent business perspective within APEC.

ABAC will present its annual report at the APEC leaders meeting this weekend.

1 advisory   

adj.劝告的，忠告的，顾问的，提供咨询

参考例句：

• I have worked in an advisory capacity with many hospitals.我曾在多家医院做过顾问工作。
• He was appointed to the advisory committee last month.他上个月获任命为顾问委员会委员。

2 makers   

n.制造者，制造商（maker的复数形式）

参考例句：

• The makers of the product assured us that there had been no sacrifice of quality. 这一产品的制造商向我们保证说他们没有牺牲质量。
• The makers are about to launch out a new product. 制造商们马上要生产一种新产品。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 emissions   

排放物( emission的名词复数 )； 散发物（尤指气体）

参考例句：

• Most scientists accept that climate change is linked to carbon emissions. 大多数科学家都相信气候变化与排放的含碳气体有关。
• Dangerous emissions radiate from plutonium. 危险的辐射物从钚放散出来。

4 transparent   

adj.明显的，无疑的；透明的

参考例句：

• The water is so transparent that we can see the fishes swimming.水清澈透明，可以看到鱼儿游来游去。
• The window glass is transparent.窗玻璃是透明的。

5 negotiations   

协商( negotiation的名词复数 )； 谈判； 完成（难事）； 通过

参考例句：

• negotiations for a durable peace 为持久和平而进行的谈判
• Negotiations have failed to establish any middle ground. 谈判未能达成任何妥协。

6 tangible   

adj.有形的，可触摸的，确凿的，实际的

参考例句：

• The policy has not yet brought any tangible benefits.这项政策还没有带来任何实质性的好处。
• There is no tangible proof.没有确凿的证据。

7 sector   

n.部门，部分；防御地段，防区；扇形

参考例句：

• The export sector will aid the economic recovery. 出口产业将促进经济复苏。
• The enemy have attacked the British sector.敌人已进攻英国防区。