TED演讲:从大气中移除二氧化碳的新方法(6)

 I want to step back, and I want to bring up the concept of negative emissions¹ again. 我想退一步，再次提出负排放的概念。

Negative emissions require that the CO2 separated be permanently² removed from the atmosphere forever, 负排放，需要被分离的二氧化碳永久性地从大气层中去除，

which means putting it back underground, where it came from in the first place. 这意味着把它送回地下，也就是它最初所在的地方。

But let's face it, nobody gets paid to do that today -- at least not enough. 但请让我们面对现实吧，至今都没有人以此为生--至少相关从业者数量还远远不够。

So the companies that are developing these technologies are actually interested in taking the CO2 所以开发这些技术的公司其实是对获取二氧化碳感兴趣，

and making something useful out of it, a marketable product. 为了从中造出有价值的东西，一个可销售的产品。

It could be liquid fuels, plastics or even synthetic³ gravel⁴. 它可以是液体燃料，塑料，甚至是合成的砾石。

And don't get me wrong -- these carbon markets are great. 别误会我的意思--这些碳源的市场非常好。

But I also don't want you to be disillusioned⁵. 但是我也不想让你们产生错误的幻想。

These are not large enough to solve our climate crisis, 这些市场还不够大，不足以解决气候危机，

and so what we need to do is we need to actually think about what it could take. 所以我们需要认真思考一下还能做些什么来解决危机。

One thing I'll absolutely say is positive about the carbon markets is that they allow for new capture plants to be built, 关于碳市场的一个绝佳的事实就是，它至少支撑了建造新的捕获工厂，

and with every capture plant built, we learn more. 每建造一个捕获工厂，我们都会学到更多；

And when we learn more, we have an opportunity to bring costs down. 当我们学到更多，我们就能不断地降低成本。

But we also need to be willing to invest as a global society. 但作为一个国际社会，我们还需要愿意去投资。

We could have all of the clever thinking and technology in the world, 我们有世界上所有的奇妙思想和科技，

but it's not going to be enough in order for this technology to have a significant impact on climate. 但是这还远无法让这项技术对气候带来显著的改善。

We really need regulation, we need subsidies⁶, taxes on carbon. 我们还切实地需要法规扶持，我们需要补贴，碳税。

There are a few of us that would absolutely be willing to pay more, 我们当中有一部分人绝对愿意为此花更多的钱，

but what will be required is for carbon-neutral, carbon-negative paths to be affordable⁷ for the majority of society in order to impact climate. 但为了走向零碳排放，甚至是碳负排放的道路，我们需要让社会中的大多数人都能够承担得起这部分费用，才能真正影响气候。

 

1 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。

2 permanently   

adv.永恒地，永久地，固定不变地

参考例句：

• The accident left him permanently scarred.那次事故给他留下了永久的伤疤。
• The ship is now permanently moored on the Thames in London.该船现在永久地停泊在伦敦泰晤士河边。

3 synthetic   

adj.合成的，人工的；综合的；n.人工制品

参考例句：

• We felt the salesman's synthetic friendliness.我们感觉到那位销售员的虚情假意。
• It's a synthetic diamond.这是人造钻石。

4 gravel   

n.砂跞；砂砾层；结石

参考例句：

• We bought six bags of gravel for the garden path.我们购买了六袋碎石用来铺花园的小路。
• More gravel is needed to fill the hollow in the drive.需要更多的砾石来填平车道上的坑洼。

5 disillusioned   

a.不再抱幻想的，大失所望的，幻想破灭的

参考例句：

• I soon became disillusioned with the job. 我不久便对这个工作不再抱幻想了。
• Many people who are disillusioned in reality assimilate life to a dream. 许多对现实失望的人把人生比作一场梦。

6 subsidies   

n.补贴，津贴，补助金( subsidy的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• European agriculture ministers failed to break the deadlock over farm subsidies. 欧洲各国农业部长在农业补贴问题上未能打破僵局。
• Agricultural subsidies absorb about half the EU's income. 农业补贴占去了欧盟收入的大约一半。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 affordable   

adj.支付得起的，不太昂贵的

参考例句：

• The rent for the four-roomed house is affordable.四居室房屋的房租付得起。
• There are few affordable apartments in big cities.在大城市中没有几所公寓是便宜的。