2007年VOA标准英语-UN Chief Calls on US to Lead Global Response to

By Peter Heinlein
United Nations
01 March 2007

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has urged the United States to take the lead in the search for a global response to climate change. VOA's correspondent at the United Nations, Peter Heinlein, reports the secretary-general described global warming as a threat at least as great as war.

Ban Ki-moon (file photo)

Mr. Ban praised America's role in developing innovative¹ technology to reduce greenhouse gas emissions².

Speaking to a group of students at U.N. headquarters, the secretary-general noted³ that, while Washington has not signed the Kyoto Protocol⁴ on climate change, discussions in the Bush administration and Congress have raised public awareness⁵ about global warming.

Answering a student's question, Mr. Ban expressed hope that the United States, the world's largest greenhouse gas emitter, would also take the political lead in searching for a successor to the Kyoto treaty, which expires in 2012.

He said, "I hope that the United States, while they have taken their role in innovative technologies, as well as energy, promote cleaner energies, will also take lead in these very important and urgent issues which [the] international community must look for beyond Kyoto Protocol for the common prosperity of the human being in the future."

In his speech to the students, Mr. Ban described himself as a child of the Korean War, and recalled his youth in South Korea under the constant threat of a nuclear winter. But he said the environmental threat facing the globe today is just as serious.

"Today, war continues to threaten countless⁶ men, women and children across the globe," he said. "It is the source of untold⁷ suffering and loss. And the majority of the U.N.'s work still focuses on preventing and ending conflict. But the danger posed by war to all of humanity - and our planet - is at least matched by the climate crisis and global warming."

The U.N. chief said the world needs "a more coherent system of international environmental governance" to meet the challenge. He pointed⁸ to the world body as the natural choice for creating such a system.

"These issues transcend⁹ borders," he said. "That is why protecting the world's environment is largely beyond the capacity of individual countries."

"Only concerted and coordinated¹⁰ international action - supported and sustained by individual initiative - will be sufficient. The natural arena¹¹ for such action is the United Nations," he continued.

The chief U.S. climate negotiator this week said the United States remains¹² committed to the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change.

Negotiator Harlan Watson said even though the United States has not signed the Kyoto Protocol to the Framework agreement, and even though emerging economic giants such as India and China are exempt¹³ from its requirements, all three are working to cut harmful carbon emissions.

Watson defended the Bush administration's decision to stay out of the Kyoto regime, arguing that its requirements would cost an estimated $400 million a year and result in the loss of nearly five million U.S. jobs.

1 innovative   

adj.革新的，新颖的，富有革新精神的

参考例句：

• Discover an innovative way of marketing.发现一个创新的营销方式。
• He was one of the most creative and innovative engineers of his generation.他是他那代人当中最富创造性与革新精神的工程师之一。

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 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

4 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。

5 awareness   

n.意识，觉悟，懂事，明智

参考例句：

• There is a general awareness that smoking is harmful.人们普遍认识到吸烟有害健康。
• Environmental awareness has increased over the years.这些年来人们的环境意识增强了。

6 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。

7 untold   

adj.数不清的，无数的

参考例句：

• She has done untold damage to our chances.她给我们的机遇造成了不可估量的损害。
• They suffered untold terrors in the dark and huddled together for comfort.他们遭受着黑暗中的难以言传的种种恐怖，因而只好挤在一堆互相壮胆。

8 pointed   

adj.尖的，直截了当的

参考例句：

• He gave me a very sharp pointed pencil.他给我一支削得非常尖的铅笔。
• She wished to show Mrs.John Dashwood by this pointed invitation to her brother.她想通过对达茨伍德夫人提出直截了当的邀请向她的哥哥表示出来。

9 transcend   

vt.超出，超越(理性等)的范围

参考例句：

• We can't transcend the limitations of the ego.我们无法超越自我的局限性。
• Everyone knows that the speed of airplanes transcend that of ships.人人都知道飞机的速度快于轮船的速度。

10 coordinated   

adj.协调的

参考例句：

• The sound has to be coordinated with the picture. 声音必须和画面协调一致。
• The numerous existing statutes are complicated and poorly coordinated. 目前繁多的法令既十分复杂又缺乏快调。 来自英汉非文学 - 环境法 - 环境法

11 arena   

n.竞技场，运动场所；竞争场所，舞台

参考例句：

• She entered the political arena at the age of 25. 她25岁进入政界。
• He had not an adequate arena for the exercise of his talents.他没有充分发挥其才能的场所。

12 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。

13 exempt   

adj.免除的；v.使免除；n.免税者，被免除义务者

参考例句：

• These goods are exempt from customs duties.这些货物免征关税。
• He is exempt from punishment about this thing.关于此事对他已免于处分。