VOA常速英语2013--美国决心应对气候变化

 

U.S. Determined¹ To Fight Climate Change 美国决心应对气候变化

Combating global climate change is a top priority of the Administration of President Barack Obama.

对付气候变化是巴拉克·奥巴马总统政府的重中之重。

The United States is committed to taking this challenge head on, and working with our partners around the world to reduce emissions², transform the world’s energy economy, and help the most vulnerable cope with the impacts of climate change.

美国致力于应对这一挑战，与全世界的合作伙伴一道减少排放量，令全世界能源经济改头换面，帮助最脆弱国家应对气候变化的影响。

We see irrefutable evidence that man-made greenhouse gas emissions are warming our atmosphere at rates faster than any time in recorded history. In fact, 11 of the hottest 12 years on record have all occurred since 2000. Scientists agree that a changing climate leads to changes in the frequency and intensity³ of extreme weather and climate events. In 2012, the United States experienced 11 such events where losses exceeded $1 billion.

不可辨驳的证据表明，人造温室气体排放使得大气温度上升，其速度比历史上有记录的任何时候都要快。事实上，有记录的最炎热的12年，其中有11年是在2000年之后。科学家认为气候变化会导致极端天气和气候事件发生频率和强度的改变。2012年美国经历了11次类似事件，损失超过10亿美元。

In 2005 and 2010, the Amazon region experienced two “100-year droughts” that led to the release of billions of tons of carbon dioxide through wildfires, soil emissions, and other biogeochemical processes. That’s the equivalent of one fifth of all the carbon dioxide released through energy usage around the world in an entire year.

2005到2010年间，亚马逊流域经历了两次百年不遇的旱灾，使得野火、土壤排放等生物地球化学过程释放了数十亿吨二氧化碳，相当于全世界一整年能源使用释放的二氧化碳的五分之一。

The United States is determined to lead the fight against climate change. That is why we developed a comprehensive plan with three main objectives.

美国决心带头对付气候变化，因此我们制定了三个综合计划，包含三个主要目标。

The first is to prevent the worst effects of climate change by reducing our carbon pollution. Historically, the U.S. had set limits for arsenic⁴, mercury, lead, and sulfur⁵ but had placed no limits on how much carbon dioxide pollution power plants may release. America’s Climate Action Plan adds new protections by addressing emissions of greenhouse gases for the first time. Carbon dioxide pollution contributes to health problems, and increases the severity of droughts and heat waves. Cutting carbon dioxide will also reduce the acidification of our oceans.

第一个目标是通过减少碳污染来阻止气候变化的最坏影响，从历史上看，美国对砷、汞、铅和硫都有限制，但没有对发电厂释放多少二氧化碳做限制。美国的气候行动计划首次解决温室气体的排放，增加了新的保护措施。二氧化碳污染能导致健康问题，加剧旱灾和热气流的强度。减少二氧化碳还能减少海洋的酸化程度。

The second goal is to prepare the United States, for the unavoidable impacts of climate change.

第二个目标是使美国做好应对不可避免的气候变化的准备。

And third, the United States will lead international efforts to address climate change.

第三个目标是，美国将带领各国解决气候变化问题。

What one country does impacts the livelihoods⁶ of people elsewhere – and what we all do to address climate change now will largely determine the kind of planet we leave for our children and generations to come.

一个国家的所作所为能影响其他国家人们的生活，我们现在为应对气候变化所做的一切将在很大程度上决定我们为子孙后代留下什么样的星球。

1 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。

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 intensity   

n.强烈，剧烈；强度；烈度

参考例句：

• I didn't realize the intensity of people's feelings on this issue.我没有意识到这一问题能引起群情激奋。
• The strike is growing in intensity.罢工日益加剧。

4 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。

5 sulfur   

n.硫，硫磺（=sulphur）

参考例句：

• Sulfur emissions from steel mills become acid rain.炼钢厂排放出的硫形成了酸雨。
• Burning may produce sulfur oxides.燃烧可能会产生硫氧化物。

6 livelihoods   

生计，谋生之道( livelihood的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• First came the earliest individualistic pioneers who depended on hunting and fishing for their livelihoods. 走在最前面的是早期的个人主义先驱者，他们靠狩猎捕鱼为生。 来自英汉非文学 - 政府文件
• With little influence over policies, their traditional livelihoods are threatened. 因为马赛族人对政策的影响力太小，他们的传统生计受到了威胁。