奥巴马:致力于气候变化问题

 　　PARIS / WASHINGTON—U.S. President Barack Obama urged world leaders to "rise to this moment" Monday, telling them their progress at a U.N. climate summit in Paris will be measured by "the suffering that is averted¹ and a planet that is preserved."

　　Obama said the nations of the leaders in attendance share a sense of urgency about their goal of curbing² fossil fuel emissions³ and limiting the rise in global temperatures, and cited some progress the United States and others have already made.

　　"Our task here in Paris is to turn these achievements into an enduring framework for human progress," he said.  "Not a stopgap solution, but a longterm strategy that gives the world confidence in a low carbon future."

　　Climate Change

　　He called on the delegations⁴ to agree to a system that is transparent⁵ and gives them confidence everyone else is meeting their commitments.  He also highlighted the need to provide resources to developing nations in order to help them use clean sources of energy. "Let's get to work," Obama said in closing.

　　The leaders are working to agree on binding⁶ measures to keep global temperatures from rising more than 2 degrees Celsius⁷ above pre-Industrial Revolution levels.  The U.N. weather agency says the average global temperature is set to rise by 1 degree Celsius, halfway⁸ to the limit the U.N. is seeking to impose in order to prevent potentially catastrophic global effects.

　　'Decisive turning point'

　　U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said the summit "must mark a decisive turning point" and that the leaders "have the power to secure the wellbeing of this and succeeding generations."

　　"You are here today to write the script for a new future, a future of hope and promise of increased prosperity, security and dignity for all," Ban said.  "We need the world to know that we are headed to a low-emissions, climate resilient future and there is no going back."

　　Possible obstacles

　　French President Francois Hollande has warned of obstacles for the 195-nation summit in reaching a compulsory⁹ deal in Paris, including the legality of any accord, financing for poorer countries and monitoring of countries' pledges to limit greenhouse gas emissions. So far this year, 183 nations have issued long-term plans to cope with climate change, but difficult negotiations¹⁰ are expected at the summit and related international meetings that run through December 11.

　　An attempt in Copenhagen in 2009 to craft a global deal foundered¹¹ at an ill-tempered summit, with divisions between rich and poor countries.

　　Obama, Xi meeting

　　Before the summit opened, U.S. President Barack Obama met with Chinese President Xi Jinping and said the two countries have a common vision of what is needed in an agreement, including steps toward a low carbon global economy and helping¹² financial support to help developing nations adapt.

　　"As the two largest economies in the world and the two largest carbon emitters, we have both determined¹⁴ that it is our responsibility to take action, and since our historic joint¹⁵ announcement of our post-2020 climate targets in Beijing last year, more than 180 countries have followed in announcing their own targets," Obama said.  "So our leadership on this issue has been absolutely vital."

　　The U.S. has pledged to cut emissions up to 28 percent by 2025, while China said targets to peak its emissions by about 2030.

　　Obama also held separate talks Monday on the “urgent threat” of climate change with India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The U.S. president highlighted India’s work on a solar alliance to deploy¹⁶ affordable¹⁷ clean energy to developing countries.

　　“I want to emphasize that Paris must recognize and protect the ability of countries like India to pursue the priorities of development, growth and poverty eradication¹⁸. I know that is something that is deeply felt by Prime Minister Modi,” Obama said.

　　Protests, security

　　France says about 2,800 police and soldiers are securing the Le Bourget conference site, and 6,300 others will deploy in Paris. French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve said nearly 1,000 people believed to pose security risks have been denied entry into France.

　　Ahead of the Paris summit, hundreds of thousands of protesters joined worldwide demonstrations¹⁹ Sunday calling for adoption²⁰ of global environmental control.

　　Activists²¹ linked hands in the heart of the French capital amid tight security, in the wake of the deadly Islamic State terrorist attacks earlier this month that killed 130 people.

　　Bataclan site visit

　　Less than an hour after arriving in Paris, President Obama made an unannounced stop outside the Bataclan theater, laying a rose at a makeshift memorial for the 90 people gunned down during a concert on November 13.

　　Later on Monday, during his remarks at the climate summit, Obama said the world stands united in solidarity²² with the French capital.

　　“We salute²³ people of Paris for insisting this crucial conference go on. An act of defiance²⁴ that proves nothing will deter¹³ us from building the future we want for our children,” Obama said.

1 averted   

防止，避免( avert的过去式和过去分词 )； 转移

参考例句：

• A disaster was narrowly averted. 及时防止了一场灾难。
• Thanks to her skilful handling of the affair, the problem was averted. 多亏她对事情处理得巧妙，才避免了麻烦。

2 curbing   

n.边石，边石的材料v.限制，克制，抑制( curb的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• Progress has been made in curbing inflation. 在控制通货膨胀方面已取得了进展。
• A range of policies have been introduced aimed at curbing inflation. 为了抑制通货膨胀实施了一系列的政策。

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 delegations   

n.代表团( delegation的名词复数 )；委托，委派

参考例句：

• In the past 15 years, China has sent 280 women delegations abroad. 十五年来，中国共派280批妇女代表团出访。 来自汉英非文学 - 白皮书
• The Sun Ray decision follows the federal pattern of tolerating broad delegations but insisting on safeguards. “阳光”案的判决仿效联邦容许广泛授权的做法，但又坚持保护措施。 来自英汉非文学 - 行政法

5 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。

6 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。

7 Celsius   

adj.摄氏温度计的，摄氏的

参考例句：

• The temperature tonight will fall to seven degrees Celsius.今晚气温将下降到七摄氏度。
• The maximum temperature in July may be 36 degrees Celsius.七月份最高温度可能达到36摄氏度。

8 halfway   

adj.中途的，不彻底的，部分的；adv.半路地，在中途，在半途

参考例句：

• We had got only halfway when it began to get dark.走到半路，天就黑了。
• In study the worst danger is give up halfway.在学习上，最忌讳的是有始无终。

9 compulsory   

n.强制的，必修的；规定的，义务的

参考例句：

• Is English a compulsory subject?英语是必修课吗？
• Compulsory schooling ends at sixteen.义务教育至16岁为止。

10 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。

11 foundered   

v.创始人( founder的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Three ships foundered in heavy seas. 三艘船在波涛汹涌的海面上沉没了。 来自辞典例句
• The project foundered as a result of lack of finance. 该项目因缺乏资金而告吹。 来自辞典例句

12 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

13 deter   

vt.阻止，使不敢，吓住

参考例句：

• Failure did not deter us from trying it again.失败并没有能阻挡我们再次进行试验。
• Dogs can deter unwelcome intruders.狗能够阻拦不受欢迎的闯入者。

14 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。

15 joint   

adj.联合的，共同的；n.关节，接合处；v.连接，贴合

参考例句：

• I had a bad fall,which put my shoulder out of joint.我重重地摔了一跤，肩膀脫臼了。
• We wrote a letter in joint names.我们联名写了封信。

16 deploy   

v.（军）散开成战斗队形，布置，展开

参考例句：

• The infantry began to deploy at dawn.步兵黎明时开始进入战斗位置。
• The president said he had no intention of deploying ground troops.总统称并不打算部署地面部队。

17 affordable   

adj.支付得起的，不太昂贵的

参考例句：

• The rent for the four-roomed house is affordable.四居室房屋的房租付得起。
• There are few affordable apartments in big cities.在大城市中没有几所公寓是便宜的。

18 eradication   

n.根除

参考例句：

• The eradication of an established infestation is not easy. 根除昆虫蔓延是不容易的。
• This is often required for intelligent control and eradication. 这经常需要灵巧的控制与消除。

19 demonstrations   

证明( demonstration的名词复数 )； 表明； 表达； 游行示威

参考例句：

• Lectures will be interspersed with practical demonstrations. 讲课中将不时插入实际示范。
• The new military government has banned strikes and demonstrations. 新的军人政府禁止罢工和示威活动。

20 adoption   

n.采用，采纳，通过；收养

参考例句：

• An adoption agency had sent the boys to two different families.一个收养机构把他们送给两个不同的家庭。
• The adoption of this policy would relieve them of a tremendous burden.采取这一政策会给他们解除一个巨大的负担。

21 activists   

n.（政治活动的）积极分子，活动家( activist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• His research work was attacked by animal rights activists . 他的研究受到了动物权益维护者的抨击。
• Party activists with lower middle class pedigrees are numerous. 党的激进分子中有很多出身于中产阶级下层。 来自《简明英汉词典》

22 solidarity   

n.团结；休戚相关

参考例句：

• They must preserve their solidarity.他们必须维护他们的团结。
• The solidarity among China's various nationalities is as firm as a rock.中国各族人民之间的团结坚如磐石。

23 salute   

vi.行礼，致意，问候，放礼炮；vt.向…致意，迎接，赞扬；n.招呼，敬礼，礼炮

参考例句：

• Merchant ships salute each other by dipping the flag.商船互相点旗致敬。
• The Japanese women salute the people with formal bows in welcome.这些日本妇女以正式的鞠躬向人们施礼以示欢迎。

24 defiance   

n.挑战，挑衅，蔑视，违抗

参考例句：

• He climbed the ladder in defiance of the warning.他无视警告爬上了那架梯子。
• He slammed the door in a spirit of defiance.他以挑衅性的态度把门砰地一下关上。