VOA常速英语2008年-Climate Change Issue Dominates EU Summit

By Lisa Bryant
Paris
13 March 2008

Climate change and a proposed Mediterranean¹ Union top the agenda of a two-day European Union summit opening Thursday in Brussels. Lisa Bryant has more from Paris about the issues involved.

Leaders from the 27-member European Union gathering² in Brussels are expected to call on countries like the United States and China to commit to a new international agreement slashing⁴ heat-trapping carbon emissions⁵.

The EU sees itself as a leader in the fight against global warming after member states agreed last year to slash³ emissions by 2020.

EU leaders were poised⁶ on Thursday to agree to a timetable for tackling climate change that they hope will allow them to set the pace in global talks next year. Failure to agree on the details could delay EU regulation and weaken the bloc⁷ in United Nations talks on emissions in November 2009.

EU spokeswoman Barbara Helsserich told reporters in Brussels that many Europeans believe environmental protection is critical -- and does not hamper⁸ economic growth.

"Nearly two thirds of Europeans -- 63 percent -- feel that protecting the environment is more of an incentive⁹ for innovation than an obstacle to economic performance," said Helsserich. "And almost as many Europeans feel that protecting the environment must be given priority over economic competitiveness."

Also on Thursday, European Union leaders gave a lukewarm welcome to a watered-down version of French President Nicolas Sarkozy's plan for a Mediterranean Union. The Union would foster closer ties between Europe and its North African and Mideast neighbors on the Mediterranean Sea. Mr. Sarkozy's original plan has been scaled back because of opposition¹⁰ from several EU nations. France's EU partners -- especially Germany -- are concerned that the project will boost Paris's influence, with Berlin and other EU nations footing the bill.

1 Mediterranean   

adj.地中海的；地中海沿岸的

参考例句：

• The houses are Mediterranean in character.这些房子都属地中海风格。
• Gibraltar is the key to the Mediterranean.直布罗陀是地中海的要冲。

2 gathering   

n.集会，聚会，聚集

参考例句：

• He called on Mr. White to speak at the gathering.他请怀特先生在集会上讲话。
• He is on the wing gathering material for his novels.他正忙于为他的小说收集资料。

3 slash   

vi.大幅度削减；vt.猛砍，尖锐抨击，大幅减少；n.猛砍，斜线，长切口，衣衩

参考例句：

• The shop plans to slash fur prices after Spring Festival.该店计划在春节之后把皮货降价。
• Don't slash your horse in that cruel way.不要那样残忍地鞭打你的马。

4 slashing   

adj.尖锐的；苛刻的；鲜明的；乱砍的v.挥砍( slash的现在分词 )；鞭打；割破；削减

参考例句：

• Slashing is the first process in which liquid treatment is involved. 浆纱是液处理的第一过程。 来自辞典例句
• He stopped slashing his horse. 他住了手，不去鞭打他的马了。 来自辞典例句

5 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。

6 poised   

a.摆好姿势不动的

参考例句：

• The hawk poised in mid-air ready to swoop. 老鹰在半空中盘旋，准备俯冲。
• Tina was tense, her hand poised over the telephone. 蒂娜心情紧张，手悬在电话机上。

7 bloc   

n.集团；联盟

参考例句：

• A solid bloc of union members support the decision.工会会员团结起来支持该决定。
• There have been growing tensions within the trading bloc.贸易同盟国的关系越来越紧张。

8 hamper   

vt.妨碍，束缚，限制；n.(有盖的)大篮子

参考例句：

• There are some apples in a picnic hamper.在野餐用的大篮子里有许多苹果。
• The emergence of such problems seriously hamper the development of enterprises.这些问题的出现严重阻碍了企业的发展。

9 incentive   

n.刺激；动力；鼓励；诱因；动机

参考例句：

• Money is still a major incentive in most occupations.在许多职业中，钱仍是主要的鼓励因素。
• He hasn't much incentive to work hard.他没有努力工作的动机。

10 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。