VOA标准英语2011--Kyoto Protocol's Future to Be Determined in Durban

Kyoto Protocol¹'s Future to Be Determined² in Durban

The Kyoto Protocol sets binding³ reduction targets on greenhouse gas emissions⁴, such as carbon dioxide, but it expires next year. That's why reaching a new agreement is a top priority for diplomats⁵ attending the annual United Nations-sponsored climate talks in Durban, South Africa beginning Monday.

The world's climate negotiators agree that they want to reduce emissions linked to climate change, but are having a hard time reaching consensus⁶ on the necessary steps.

Alden Meyer, the director of climate strategy and policy at the Union of Concerned Scientists in Washington, says the Kyoto Protocol is in jeopardy⁷.

"The European Union has said they're willing to continue in Kyoto if there's a process launched to create a broader framework down the road that would include not only the United States but China and other major developing countries. Japan, Canada and Russia have indicated already they don't want to stay in Kyoto beyond the end of next year when their current commitments expire. So this'll be one of the major issues in Durban - what happens to Kyoto after 2012," Meyer said.

Only developed countries among nearly 200 parties that signed the Kyoto Protocol are bound by it to reduce emissions. That's based on the idea that they are largely responsible for the industrial activity that releases greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.

But some developing nations are heavy polluters, too, says climate scientist Todd Sanford of the Union of Concerned Scientists.

"If you still look at a per capita basis, the U.S. is still far ahead of everyone else. But growth in India and China have really put the developing world past the developed world at this point in terms of total emissions," Sanford said.

The United States is committed to making voluntary cuts, U.S. negotiator Jonathan Pershing said earlier this year.

"As part of that commitment, we stand behind President Obama's pledge to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions in a range of 17 percent below 2005 levels by 2020 as inscribed⁸ in the Cancun agreements [of 2010]," Pershing said.

The issue is international consensus, says Australian lawmaker Mark Dreyfus.

"I think it's hard to get 200, nearly 200, countries to agree and what we're finding is that a lot of countries are doing more domestically than perhaps they're prepared to agree to internationally," Dreyfus said.

Rachmat Witoelar is the Indonesian president's envoy⁹ for climate change. "So we have to learn how to take and give, and Indonesia is trying to do so by voluntarily lowering our emissions," Witoelar said.

The United States, the world's second-largest carbon emitter, never ratified¹⁰ the Kyoto agreement, in part because it placed no limits on developing nations such as China, the world's chief polluter.

U.S. President Barack Obama addressed that issue in Australia in mid-November.

"If we are taking a series of steps, then it's important that emerging economies like China and India are also part of the bargain. It doesn't mean that they have to do exactly what we do. We understand that in terms of per capita carbon emissions, they've got a long way to go before they catch up to us. But it does mean that they've got to take seriously their responsibilities as well," he said.

No agreement now exists to extend or succeed the Kyoto international climate agreement.

1 protocol   

n.议定书，草约，会谈记录，外交礼节

参考例句：

• We must observe the correct protocol.我们必须遵守应有的礼仪。
• The statesmen signed a protocol.那些政治家签了议定书。

2 determined   

adj.坚定的；有决心的

参考例句：

• I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
• He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。

3 binding   

有约束力的，有效的，应遵守的

参考例句：

• The contract was not signed and has no binding force. 合同没有签署因而没有约束力。
• Both sides have agreed that the arbitration will be binding. 双方都赞同仲裁具有约束力。

4 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。

5 diplomats   

n.外交官( diplomat的名词复数 )；有手腕的人，善于交际的人

参考例句：

• These events led to the expulsion of senior diplomats from the country. 这些事件导致一些高级外交官被驱逐出境。
• The court has no jurisdiction over foreign diplomats living in this country. 法院对驻本国的外交官无裁判权。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 consensus   

n.(意见等的)一致，一致同意，共识

参考例句：

• Can we reach a consensus on this issue?我们能在这个问题上取得一致意见吗？
• What is the consensus of opinion at the afternoon meeting?下午会议上一致的意见是什么？

7 jeopardy   

n.危险；危难

参考例句：

• His foolish behaviour may put his whole future in jeopardy.他愚蠢的行为可能毁了他一生的前程。
• It is precisely at this juncture that the boss finds himself in double jeopardy.恰恰在这个关键时刻，上司发现自己处于进退两难的境地。

8 inscribed   

v.写，刻( inscribe的过去式和过去分词 )；内接

参考例句：

• His name was inscribed on the trophy. 他的名字刻在奖杯上。
• The names of the dead were inscribed on the wall. 死者的名字被刻在墙上。 来自《简明英汉词典》

9 envoy   

n.使节，使者，代表，公使

参考例句：

• Their envoy showed no sign of responding to our proposals.他们的代表对我方的提议毫无回应的迹象。
• The government has not yet appointed an envoy to the area.政府尚未向这一地区派过外交官。

10 ratified   

v.批准，签认（合约等）( ratify的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The treaty was declared invalid because it had not been ratified. 条约没有得到批准，因此被宣布无效。
• The treaty was ratified by all the member states. 这个条约得到了所有成员国的批准。