pbs高端访谈:美国环境保护局局长丽莎·杰克逊辞职

 　　JEFFREY BROWN:And now a resignation brings an assessment¹ of President Obama's environmental policies in his first term and a look ahead to his second.

　　LISA JACKSON,Environmental Protection Agency: I'm very proud to be a part of his administration.

　　JEFFREY BROWN:She's been the president's point person on the environment for four years, but, today, Lisa Jackson announced she's stepping down as administrator² of the Environmental Protection Agency.

　　In a statement, Jackson said, "I will leave the EPA confident the ship is sailing in the right direction."Jackson's tenure³ was defined in part by efforts to curb⁴ carbon emissions⁵. In 2009, she formally declared greenhouse gases, including carbon dioxide, a threat to public health.

　　That same day, she spoke⁶ on the NewsHour.

　　3.jpgLISA JACKSON:I join the president in calling for clean energy and climate legislation. And that's because I think having economy-wide legislation sends an unequivocal signal to the private sector⁷ that we really mean it, that we're moving towards green energy.

　　JEFFREY BROWN:But a bill to cap greenhouse gases foundered⁸ in the Democratic-controlled Senate and never made it to the president's desk.

　　Jackson also pushed a rule to reduce smog, but it faced bitter opposition⁹ from Republicans and industry over the cost and potential effect on jobs. And, last year, President Obama ordered it withdrawn¹⁰.

　　Still, environmental groups praised Jackson for shepherding the first-ever national standards governing power plant emissions of mercury and other toxic¹¹ pollutants¹².

　　On her watch, the president also signed new fuel economy standards, doubling average gas mileage¹³ for new vehicles to more than 54 miles per gallon by 2023.

　　And Jackson helped persuade the administration to delay the Keystone oil pipeline¹⁴, designed to bring oil from Canada to refineries¹⁵ in Texas.

　　We debate the Obama administration's environmental record under Jackson's tenure with Michael Brune, executive director of the Sierra Club, one of the oldest environmental groups in the country, and Kenneth Green, senior fellow on energy and natural resources for the Fraser Institute, a Canadian-based think tank.

　　Michael Brune, let me start with you, a quick overview¹⁷ first. Four years in, has the Obama administration has the Obama administration achieved what you had hoped for?

　　MICHAEL BRUNE, Sierra Club: Four years in, the Obama administration has done a great job.

　　And they do have some unfinished business. But when you look at doubling the vehicle efficiency in just four years, that's a remarkable¹⁸ achievement. Taking the amount of mercury and arsenic¹⁹ and dioxins and other air toxics²⁰ out of the atmosphere from coal-fired power plants, that's an amazing victory.

　　And when you add on top of that the rule that was just announced last month to limit the amount of soot²¹ coming from power plant facilities across the country, those are just three rules among dozens that have had a big impact on keeping our air clean, our water safe and starting to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, so it's a good record to build on.

　　JEFFREY BROWN:All right, let me ask you Kenneth Green.

　　What's—well, Kenneth Green, what's your overview?

　　KENNETH GREEN, Fraser Institute: I think that when history looks back, it won't give Lisa Jackson a particularly good record as EPA administrator, for, when she came in, she was overshadowed somewhat by Carol Browner, who was a czar at that point, who is actually the one who gets the credit for the fuel economy standards, I believe.

　　And she's maintained a very adversarial relationship with industry. The EPA's culture of anti-industry, anti-business mentality²² continues.

　　And so it was under Lisa Jackson's watch that we had somebody saying that we're going to crucify some companies to set examples—an EPA regional administrator—that we're going to crucify companies in order to set examples and terrorize them into doing what we want.

　　JEFFREY BROWN:Crucify and terror?

　　KENNETH GREEN:Crucify and terror.

　　And so this is the kind of culture Lisa Jackson has overseen²³. Now, she's gotten some regulations through, but she also was publicly slapped back on the ozone²⁴ standard in a way that it is inconceivable Carol Browner would have stayed in as head of the EPA if she had gotten brushed back that badly.

　　JEFFREY BROWN:Well, Michael Brune, you focused on some of the successes. There seem to be cases where Lisa Jackson wanted to go further than the president or White House advisers²⁵ were willing to go.

　　MICHAEL BRUNE:Yes, I think that that's probably—probably true.

　　But, look, we have to acknowledge, if history has any judgment²⁶ on the last term, what history will say is that we are living in historically partisan²⁷ times, and it's just not possible for any member of the administration to not get attacks, certainly from the fossil fuel industry and certainly from members of the Republican Party.

　　But if you look carefully at what Lisa Jackson and the entire EPA was able to accomplish in just four years, and if you compare that to the eight years of the Bush administration, and if you can compare it to almost any—almost administration since EPA was created more than 40 years ago, you would say, fairly, that this has been an outstanding four years.

　　JEFFREY BROWN:And you're saying that in...

　　MICHAEL BRUNE:The result of that—well, the result of that is that thousands of lives are being saved every year. The quality of life for millions of Americans has been raised because our air is a little bit cleaner, our water is a lot cleaner, and now we have got a real shot at reducing greenhouse gas emissions. That's a record to be proud of.

　　JEFFREY BROWN:Kenneth Green?

　　KENNETH GREEN:Well, these trends of environmental improvement have been set for 35 years or better. Our air is getting cleaner and our water is getting cleaner as much because our technology is getting better as because we keep ratcheting down air standards from clean to super-clean to ultra-clean to pure.

　　This is one of the problems EPA—that also has come up over the last four years, is that EPA has played fast and loose with its benefit calculations, the claims it makes with regard to the benefit of these new rules.

　　JEFFREY BROWN:So, you're questioning whether they have actually accomplished²⁹ what they say they have accomplished?

　　KENNETH GREEN:Whether the benefits of the regulation will be what they promised and whether the cost will be as low as they have estimated.

　　Outside analysts³⁰ have looked at their methodology, and EPA seems to consistently overclaim benefits, health benefits especially, and underassess the cost to their regulations and the economic impacts that Americans will face in years to come.

　　JEFFREY BROWN:But what about this partisanship³¹ notion that Michael Brune brought up, that, in this political atmosphere, that's inevitably³² what's going to happen, and that's what she faced and what the administration faces?

　　KENNETH GREEN:I think that's a fair assessment.

　　But I would have to say she gave as good as she got. And when the administration came in, they set a certain tone. They said they were going to be the most transparent³³ administration ever.

　　And then how did they do the vehicle fuel economy standards? In closed-door session, where no notes were allowed to be taken to record the series of events, usurping³⁴ the traditional route of setting CAFE standards through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

　　So, if there's credit to be given for polarization and partisanship, both sides get their share.

　　JEFFREY BROWN:Is that fair, Michael Brune?

　　MICHAEL BRUNE:No. We're reaching a level of silliness here. EPA has had countless³⁵ public hearings to talk about those vehicle standards. I testified at one.

　　And, Kenneth, you probably should have done the same.

　　But let's look at the results. As a result of this standard, in which more than a million comments were submitted, by the way, as a result of this standard, consumers will save money at the pump, we will reduce our dependence³⁶ on oil by several million barrels of oil per day, and this one rule will do—will cut greenhouse gas emissions by 10 percent economy-wide when it's fully²⁸ implemented³⁷.

　　That's a huge victory. That's a huge victory. And it was done through a lengthy³⁸ process that EPA drove. So, this has been...

　　MICHAEL BRUNE:Go ahead.

　　JEFFREY BROWN:Well, no, I just want to try to end by a little looking forward here.

　　And you can start, Kenneth Green.

　　What do you see as the biggest priority either to push forward or to stop, in your case, perhaps, in the coming -- in the next term?

　　KENNETH GREEN:Well, I think there's a pipeline now that is loaded up with regulations that have been somewhat delayed and slow.

　　And now if they feel they have carte blanche to push them, the kind of uncertainty³⁹ they're going to create in the business economy and in the energy sector and the technology sector as well could overwhelmingly dampen economic growth, could really harm the country's trajectory⁴⁰.

　　For example, these new vehicle fuel economy standards, well, the Chevy Volt⁴¹ won't meet them. And it costs $40,000, twice the cost of a comparable vehicle. Your vehicle costs are going to be going up as a result of these rules over time, and they're going to up significantly.

　　JEFFREY BROWN:Michael Brune, a last word from you. What would you see as the biggest priority going forward?

　　MICHAEL BRUNE:Meeting the challenge that is posed by climate change.

　　The president has said that climate change will be one of his top three priorities. And what we're looking for from the president and EPA is an ambition to match the scale of the challenge. So that will manifest itself.

　　In the first couple months, it will manifest itself in two key tests. One is whether or not the tar¹⁶ sands pipeline gets approved or whether we invest in clean energy instead.

　　Of course, we think that clean energy will produce more jobs and improve the quality of our air and water at the same time.

　　And, then, secondly⁴² to regulate carbon pollution from existing power plants, all of the coal-fired facilities that you see across the country, the refineries as well, to make sure that we continue to invest in clean energy and begin to wrestle⁴³ with the challenge of climate change, so that we have fewer droughts, fewer wildfires and fewer superstorms in the years ahead.

　　JEFFREY BROWN:All right, Michael Brune, Kenneth Green, thank you both very much.

　　KENNETH GREEN:Thank you.

1 assessment   

n.评价；评估；对财产的估价，被估定的金额

参考例句：

• This is a very perceptive assessment of the situation.这是一个对该情况的极富洞察力的评价。
• What is your assessment of the situation?你对时局的看法如何？

2 administrator   

n.经营管理者，行政官员

参考例句：

• The role of administrator absorbed much of Ben's energy.行政职务耗掉本很多精力。
• He has proved himself capable as administrator.他表现出管理才能。

3 tenure   

n.终身职位；任期；(土地)保有权，保有期

参考例句：

• He remained popular throughout his tenure of the office of mayor.他在担任市长的整个任期内都深得民心。
• Land tenure is a leading political issue in many parts of the world.土地的保有权在世界很多地区是主要的政治问题。

4 curb   

n.场外证券市场，场外交易；vt.制止，抑制

参考例句：

• I could not curb my anger.我按捺不住我的愤怒。
• You must curb your daughter when you are in church.你在教堂时必须管住你的女儿。

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 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

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。

8 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

9 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。

10 withdrawn   

vt.收回；使退出；vi.撤退，退出

参考例句：

• Our force has been withdrawn from the danger area.我们的军队已从危险地区撤出。
• All foreign troops should be withdrawn to their own countries.一切外国军队都应撤回本国去。

11 toxic   

adj.有毒的，因中毒引起的

参考例句：

• The factory had accidentally released a quantity of toxic waste into the sea.这家工厂意外泄漏大量有毒废物到海中。
• There is a risk that toxic chemicals might be blasted into the atmosphere.爆炸后有毒化学物质可能会进入大气层。

12 pollutants   

污染物质（尤指工业废物）( pollutant的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Pollutants are constantly being released into the atmosphere. 污染物质正在不断地被排放到大气中去。
• The 1987 Amendments limit 301(g) discharges to a few well-studied nonconventional pollutants. 1987年的修正案把第301条（g）的普通排放限制施加在一些认真研究过的几种非常规污染物上。 来自英汉非文学 - 环境法 - 环境法

13 mileage   

n.里程，英里数；好处，利润

参考例句：

• He doesn't think there's any mileage in that type of advertising.他认为做那种广告毫无效益。
• What mileage has your car done?你的汽车跑了多少英里？

14 pipeline   

n.管道，管线

参考例句：

• The pipeline supplies Jordan with 15 per cent of its crude oil.该管道供给约旦15%的原油。
• A single pipeline serves all the houses with water.一条单管路给所有的房子供水。

15 refineries   

精炼厂( refinery的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The efforts on closedown and suspension of small sugar refineries, small saccharin refineries and small paper mills are also being carried out in steps. 关停小糖厂、小糖精厂、小造纸厂的工作也已逐步展开。
• Hence the sitting of refineries is at a distance from population centres. 所以，炼油厂的厂址总在远离人口集中的地方。

16 tar   

n.柏油，焦油；vt.涂或浇柏油/焦油于

参考例句：

• The roof was covered with tar.屋顶涂抹了一层沥青。
• We use tar to make roads.我们用沥青铺路。

17 overview   

n.概观，概述

参考例句：

• The opening chapter gives a brief historical overview of transport.第一章是运输史的简要回顾。
• The seminar aims to provide an overview on new media publishing.研讨会旨在综览新兴的媒体出版。

18 remarkable   

adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的

参考例句：

• She has made remarkable headway in her writing skills.她在写作技巧方面有了长足进步。
• These cars are remarkable for the quietness of their engines.这些汽车因发动机没有噪音而不同凡响。

19 arsenic   

n.砒霜，砷；adj.砷的

参考例句：

• His wife poisoned him with arsenic.他的妻子用砒霜把他毒死了。
• Arsenic is a poison.砒霜是毒药。

20 toxics   

n.毒物（toxic的复数形式）

参考例句：

• Corrosives are generally toxic, so follow the precautions cited in the following section on toxics. 腐蚀剂一般来说是有毒的，所以请遵守下文关于毒品的防范措施。 来自互联网
• Objective To evaluate the diagnostic methods and treatment of gastric ulcer perforating with toxics tubular necrosis. 目的探讨胃溃疡穿孔合并中毒性肾小管坏死的诊断方法与治疗方案。 来自互联网

21 soot   

n.煤烟，烟尘；vt.熏以煤烟

参考例句：

• Soot is the product of the imperfect combustion of fuel.煤烟是燃料不完全燃烧的产物。
• The chimney was choked with soot.烟囱被煤灰堵塞了。

22 mentality   

n.心理，思想，脑力

参考例句：

• He has many years'experience of the criminal mentality.他研究犯罪心理有多年经验。
• Running a business requires a very different mentality from being a salaried employee.经营企业所要求具备的心态和上班族的心态截然不同。

23 overseen   

v.监督，监视( oversee的过去分词 )

参考例句：

• He was overseen stealing the letters. 他被人撞见在偷信件。 来自辞典例句
• It will be overseen by ThomasLi, director of IBM China Research Laboratory. 该实验室由IBM中国研究院院长李实恭(ThomasLi)引导。 来自互联网

24 ozone   

n.臭氧，新鲜空气

参考例句：

• The ozone layer is a protective layer around the planet Earth.臭氧层是地球的保护层。
• The capacity of ozone can adjust according of requirement.臭氧的产量可根据需要或调节。

25 advisers   

顾问，劝告者( adviser的名词复数 )； （指导大学新生学科问题等的）指导教授

参考例句：

• a member of the President's favoured circle of advisers 总统宠爱的顾问班子中的一员
• She withdrew to confer with her advisers before announcing a decision. 她先去请教顾问然后再宣布决定。

26 judgment   

n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见

参考例句：

• The chairman flatters himself on his judgment of people.主席自认为他审视人比别人高明。
• He's a man of excellent judgment.他眼力过人。

27 partisan   

adj.党派性的；游击队的；n.游击队员；党徒

参考例句：

• In their anger they forget all the partisan quarrels.愤怒之中，他们忘掉一切党派之争。
• The numerous newly created partisan detachments began working slowly towards that region.许多新建的游击队都开始慢慢地向那里移动。

28 fully   

adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地

参考例句：

• The doctor asked me to breathe in,then to breathe out fully.医生让我先吸气，然后全部呼出。
• They soon became fully integrated into the local community.他们很快就完全融入了当地人的圈子。

29 accomplished   

adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的

参考例句：

• Thanks to your help,we accomplished the task ahead of schedule.亏得你们帮忙,我们才提前完成了任务。
• Removal of excess heat is accomplished by means of a radiator.通过散热器完成多余热量的排出。

30 analysts   

分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
• I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。

31 Partisanship   

n. 党派性, 党派偏见

参考例句：

• Her violent partisanship was fighting Soames's battle. 她的激烈偏袒等于替索米斯卖气力。
• There was a link of understanding between them, more important than affection or partisanship. ' 比起人间的感情，比起相同的政见，这一点都来得格外重要。 来自英汉文学

32 inevitably   

adv.不可避免地；必然发生地

参考例句：

• In the way you go on,you are inevitably coming apart.照你们这样下去，毫无疑问是会散伙的。
• Technological changes will inevitably lead to unemployment.技术变革必然会导致失业。

33 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。

34 usurping   

篡夺，霸占( usurp的现在分词 )； 盗用； 篡夺，篡权

参考例句：

• Earlier the Ukrainian President dissolved Parliament because it claimed it was usurping power. 之前乌克兰总统解散国会因为国会声称要夺权。

35 countless   

adj.无数的，多得不计其数的

参考例句：

• In the war countless innocent people lost their lives.在这场战争中无数无辜的人丧失了性命。
• I've told you countless times.我已经告诉你无数遍了。

36 dependence   

n.依靠，依赖；信任，信赖；隶属

参考例句：

• Doctors keep trying to break her dependence of the drug.医生们尽力使她戒除毒瘾。
• He was freed from financial dependence on his parents.他在经济上摆脱了对父母的依赖。

37 implemented   

v.实现( implement的过去式和过去分词 )；执行；贯彻；使生效

参考例句：

• This agreement, if not implemented, is a mere scrap of paper. 这个协定如不执行只不过是一纸空文。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• The economy is in danger of collapse unless far-reaching reforms are implemented. 如果不实施影响深远的改革，经济就面临崩溃的危险。 来自辞典例句

38 lengthy   

adj.漫长的，冗长的

参考例句：

• We devoted a lengthy and full discussion to this topic.我们对这个题目进行了长时间的充分讨论。
• The professor wrote a lengthy book on Napoleon.教授写了一部有关拿破仑的巨著。

39 uncertainty   

n.易变，靠不住，不确知，不确定的事物

参考例句：

• Her comments will add to the uncertainty of the situation.她的批评将会使局势更加不稳定。
• After six weeks of uncertainty,the strain was beginning to take its toll.6个星期的忐忑不安后，压力开始产生影响了。

40 trajectory   

n.弹道，轨道

参考例句：

• It is not difficult to sketch the subsequent trajectory.很容易描绘出它们最终的轨迹。
• The path followed by a projectile is called its trajectory.抛物体所循的路径称为它的轨道。

41 volt   

n.伏特，伏

参考例句：

• You may use 100 and 110 volt appliances in your room.您可以在房间使用100及110伏特的电器。
• The common service voltage of electric power in our country is 220/380 volt.我国普通供电电压为220/380伏。

42 secondly   

adv.第二，其次

参考例句：

• Secondly,use your own head and present your point of view.第二，动脑筋提出自己的见解。
• Secondly it is necessary to define the applied load.其次，需要确定所作用的载荷。

43 wrestle   

vi.摔跤，角力；搏斗；全力对付

参考例句：

• He taught his little brother how to wrestle.他教他小弟弟如何摔跤。
• We have to wrestle with difficulties.我们必须同困难作斗争。