2006年VOA标准英语-California Seeks to Limit Greenhouse Gases

By Mil Arcega
Washington, DC
06 April 2006
 
watch Global Warming report

The state of California could become the first to impose emission¹ caps on businesses to limit greenhouse gases.  California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger says his state is taking the lead to reduce the consequences of global warming but critics say it will only help other countries that do not have similar environmental laws.

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Many scientists say the dangers posed by our changing climate are real: drier conditions will lead to more forest fires, melting snow packs will threaten our water supplies, and emissions² will continue to affect the quality of the air we breathe.

Lawmakers in California are hoping to scale back the potential damage by forcing businesses to roll back emissions of greenhouse gases to 1990 levels, by the year 2020.

Fran Pavley   
  
If the bill passes, state legislator Fran Pavley says it would be the toughest in the nation. "You have to send a signal to the marketplace that we're serious here."

Pavley says there's good reason to.  California, the most populous³ state in the U.S., is the world's 12th largest source of greenhouse gases.  Industrial plants and power stations account for 43 percent of that, while about 40 percent comes from automobile⁴ exhaust. 
 
 
Jan Null 
  
Although scientists agree the world is getting warmer, meteorologist Jan Null says the cause remains⁵ the subject of debate. "The question still remains as far as what percentage of the problem is natural variation and which is caused by man."

Critics say one state regulating greenhouse gases will not significantly reduce global temperatures and will make the U.S. less competitive.  Others say the most immediate⁶ results will be higher energy prices, and lower returns on investments in California.
 

Allan Zaremberg   
  
Allan Zaremberg, at the California Chamber⁷ of Commerce, says the bill will hurt businesses, which will be forced to pass the costs to consumers or move their companies elsewhere. "You can't just make arbitrary caps without regard to jobs, without regard to costs."

A California study pegs⁸ the cost of implementing⁹ the bill at $7.9 billion.  Environmental groups applaud California's efforts, but mining and manufacturing industries say the benefit will go to countries with less stringent¹⁰ controls, such as India and China.

The plan is similar to the Kyoto Protocol¹¹, which calls for substantial reductions to the world's greenhouse emissions by 2010.  President Bush, who declined to take part in the 1997 agreement, has said nationwide compliance¹² would cost at least 5 million jobs in the U.S.

1 emission   

n.发出物，散发物；发出，散发

参考例句：

• Rigorous measures will be taken to reduce the total pollutant emission.采取严格有力措施，降低污染物排放总量。
• Finally,the way to effectively control particulate emission is pointed out.最后，指出有效降低颗粒排放的方向。

2 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。

3 populous   

adj.人口稠密的，人口众多的

参考例句：

• London is the most populous area of Britain.伦敦是英国人口最稠密的地区。
• China is the most populous developing country in the world.中国是世界上人口最多的发展中国家。

4 automobile   

n.汽车，机动车

参考例句：

• He is repairing the brake lever of an automobile.他正在修理汽车的刹车杆。
• The automobile slowed down to go around the curves in the road.汽车在路上转弯时放慢了速度。

5 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

6 immediate   

adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的

参考例句：

• His immediate neighbours felt it their duty to call.他的近邻认为他们有责任去拜访。
• We declared ourselves for the immediate convocation of the meeting.我们主张立即召开这个会议。

7 chamber   

n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所

参考例句：

• For many,the dentist's surgery remains a torture chamber.对许多人来说，牙医的治疗室一直是间受刑室。
• The chamber was ablaze with light.会议厅里灯火辉煌。

8 pegs   

n.衣夹( peg的名词复数 )；挂钉；系帐篷的桩；弦钮v.用夹子或钉子固定( peg的第三人称单数 )；使固定在某水平

参考例句：

• She hung up the shirt with two (clothes) pegs. 她用两只衣夹挂上衬衫。 来自辞典例句
• The vice-presidents were all square pegs in round holes. 各位副总裁也都安排得不得其所。 来自辞典例句

9 implementing   

v.实现( implement的现在分词 )；执行；贯彻；使生效

参考例句：

• -- Implementing a comprehensive drug control strategy. ――实行综合治理的禁毒战略。 来自汉英非文学 - 白皮书
• He was in no hurry about implementing his unshakable principle. 他并不急于实行他那不可动摇的原则。 来自辞典例句

10 stringent   

adj.严厉的；令人信服的；银根紧的

参考例句：

• Financiers are calling for a relaxation of these stringent measures.金融家呼吁对这些严厉的措施予以放宽。
• Some of the conditions in the contract are too stringent.合同中有几项条件太苛刻。

11 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。

12 compliance   

n.顺从；服从；附和；屈从

参考例句：

• I was surprised by his compliance with these terms.我对他竟然依从了这些条件而感到吃惊。
• She gave up the idea in compliance with his desire.她顺从他的愿望而放弃自己的主意。