VOA标准英语2105--美国各党派就巴黎气候协议的反应

Paris Climate Pact¹ Triggers Partisan² US Reactions 美国各党派就巴黎气候协议的反应

WASHINGTON—

Americans are digesting a global climate accord that is dividing Washington along predictable partisan political lines.

“This agreement will mean less of the carbon pollution that threatens our planet, and more of the jobs and economic growth driven by low-carbon investment,” said a jubilant President Barack Obama shortly after the deal was announced Saturday.

“What matters is that today we can be more confident this planet is going to be in better shape for the next generation.  And that is what I care about,” Obama added.

Congressional Democrats³ flooded Twitter to hail the accord.  Not so Republicans, who announced their opposition⁴ even before the deal was struck.

“President Obama has promised to cut back American energy production dramatically,” said Republican Senator John Barrasso last week.  “The American people oppose sending their money to a United Nations climate slush fund.”

‘Unattainable,’ critics say

In a statement, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell blasted the accord as “unattainable” and “based on a domestic energy plan that is likely illegal, that half the states have sued to halt, and that Congress has already voted to reject.”

The accord is not a formal treaty and therefore requires no Senate ratification⁵ to go into effect.  Whoever succeeds Obama in 2017 could halt or continue America’s adherence⁶ to its provisions.

Republican presidential contenders say the planet can be protected without what they see as Obama’s job-killing climate agenda.

“We want to have clean air, we want to have clean water.  We do want to have that,” said businessman and Republican frontrunner Donald Trump⁷ before decrying⁸ federal environmental regulations.

‘Wrong side of history’

The administration is standing⁹ firm.

“A lot of members of Congress are on the wrong side of history,” said Secretary of State John Kerry on ABC’s This Week program.  “And I don’t believe you can be elected president of the United States if you do not understand climate change and you aren’t committed to this kind of a plan.”

Among Democratic presidential contenders, Hillary Clinton called the climate deal “a historic step forward in meeting one of the greatest challenges of the 21st century.”  In a tweet, Senator Bernie Sanders said the accord “goes nowhere near far enough.”

“There is nothing of greater importance than that we leave this planet to our children and grandchildren in a way that is healthy and habitable,” Sanders added at a campaign event Saturday.

The accord is sure to spark fierce debate when Congress reconvenes this week.

1 pact   

n.合同，条约，公约，协定

参考例句：

• The two opposition parties made an electoral pact.那两个反对党订了一个有关选举的协定。
• The trade pact between those two countries came to an end.那两国的通商协定宣告结束。

2 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。

3 democrats   

n.民主主义者，民主人士( democrat的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The Democrats held a pep rally on Capitol Hill yesterday. 民主党昨天在国会山召开了竞选誓师大会。
• The democrats organize a filibuster in the senate. 民主党党员组织了阻挠议事。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 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。

5 ratification   

n.批准，认可

参考例句：

• The treaty is awaiting ratification.条约正等待批准。
• The treaty is subject to ratification.此条约经批准后才能生效。

6 adherence   

n.信奉，依附，坚持，固着

参考例句：

• He was well known for his adherence to the rules.他因遵循这些规定而出名。
• The teacher demanded adherence to the rules.老师要求学生们遵守纪律。

7 trump   

n.王牌，法宝；v.打出王牌，吹喇叭

参考例句：

• He was never able to trump up the courage to have a showdown.他始终鼓不起勇气摊牌。
• The coach saved his star player for a trump card.教练保留他的明星选手，作为他的王牌。

8 decrying   

v.公开反对，谴责( decry的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• Soon Chinese Internet users, including government agencies, were decrying the' poisonous panda. 不久，中国网民以及政府机构纷纷谴责“影响极坏的熊猫烧香”。 来自互联网
• Democratic leaders are decrying President Bush's plan to indefinitely halt troop withdrawals from Iraq after July. 民主党领导公开谴责布什总统七月后无限停止从伊拉克撤兵的举动。 来自互联网

9 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。