比尔盖茨2016年度公开信：能源与时间

 　If you could have one superpower, what would it be?

　　若你能拥有超能力，那会是什么呢?

　　More time. More energy. If the world can put more of both into the hands of the poorest, we believe it will allow millions of dreams to take flight. Just imagine, for a minute, life without energy. Without access to energy, the poor are stuck in the dark, denied all of these benefits and opportunities that come with power.

　　多点金钱，多点能源。如果世界可以多匀些金钱和能源给最为穷困的人们，我相信数以百万计的梦想就能起航。想象下，如果有一分钟时间生活中没有了能源会是怎样。无法获得能源，穷苦的人们就会就会深陷黑暗，无法享受能源带来的便利与机会。

　　What I needed was an equation¹ that would help me understand how we might get our CO2 down to zero.Here’s what I came up with: None of the first three—population, services, and energy—are getting close to zero. But to stop climate change and make energy affordable² for everyone, we’re also going to need some new inventions.

　　我所需要的是一个等式，可以助我理解如何把二氧化碳排放量降至零。 我想到的如下:人口、服务和能源这前三项都没有减至零。但若要阻止气候变化，让人人能享用得起能源，我们仍需要新发明。

　　It would help, of course, if we had a great system for storing solar and wind power. But right now, the best storage option is rechargeable batteries, and they are expensive. Lithium-ion batteries like the one inside your laptop are still the gold standard.So we need more powerful, more economical³ solutions. In short, we need an energy miracle⁴.

　　当然，如果我们有个不错的系统可以储存太阳能和风能，便有所帮助。但目前，最佳的能源储存选择是可充电电池，但同时也贵。你手提里的锂电池目前仍是黄金标准，所以我们需要更有力、更经济的解决方案。简言之，我们需要一个能源的奇迹。

　　New ways to make solar and wind power available to everyone around the clock could be one solution. Many of these ideas won’t work, but that’s okay. Each dead end will teach us something useful and keep us moving forward.

　　人人每时每刻都能用上太阳能和风能固然是解决方式之一。很多这类想法无甚作用，但也无妨。每一次陷入绝路都可以找到有益的方法、助我们前行。

　　But to find thousands of ways that won’t work, you first need to try thousands of different ideas. I recently helped launch⁵ an effort by more than two dozen private citizens that will complementgovernment research aimed at delivering energy miracles⁶ being done by several countries. It’s all .

　　但要找的数千种行不通的方法，得先有上千种不同的想法。多国政府所正致力能源奇迹的实施，最近有近三十个公民在帮忙完善研究，我也助他们一臂之力。

　　First, it’s important for everyone to get educated about this energy challenge. Second, if you’re someone with some crazy-sounding ideas to solve our energy challenge, the world needs you. In the end, the goal is to change what we think of as normal.

　　首先，每个人都要知晓这次能源挑战，这很重要。其次，如果你有解决能源挑战的奇思妙想，世界需要你。最后，目标是要改变我们习以为常的一切。

　　Our own experience working together on health, development, and energy the last two decades has been one of the most rewarding parts of our lives. It has transformed who we are and continues to fuel our optimism⁷ about how much the lives of the poorest people will improve in the years ahead.

　　过去二十年里我们一同致力于健康、发展和能源，这是我们生命中最有回报的部分，让我们有所改变，让我们信心满满地看到将来我们还能帮怎样帮助最贫苦的人们改善他们的生活。

1 equation   

n.方程式，等式，等同

参考例句：

• The solution can be expressed by a mathematical equation.答案可用一个数学方程式来表示。
• This equation is known as the ideal gas law.这个等式被叫做理想气体定律。

2 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。

3 economical   

adj.节约的，节俭的；经济学的；经济上的

参考例句：

• The state has paced the whole nation in the economical reform.这个州在经济改革中走在了全国的前列。
• Coke is an economical fuel but it leaves a lot of ash.焦炭是一种很经济的燃料,可是燃烧后剩下很多灰。

4 miracle   

n.奇迹，令人惊奇的人或事

参考例句：

• The doctors said that his recovery was a miracle. 医生们说他的复原是件奇事。
• It is simply a miracle that rice should grow in such a place.稻子竟能在这样的地方生长，这实在是个奇迹。

5 launch   

vt.发动，推出；发射；n.发射，下水，投产

参考例句：

• The makers are about to launch out a new product.制造商们马上要生产一种新产品。
• Would it be wise to launch into this rough sea?在这样汹涌的大海中游泳明智吗？

6 miracles   

n.奇迹( miracle的名词复数 )；奇事；令人惊奇的事；非凡的事

参考例句：

• He can do miracles with a few kitchen leftovers. 他能用厨房里几样剩饭做出一顿美餐。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• This tonic will work miracles for your depression. 这种补药对治疗你的忧郁症十分有效。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 optimism   

n.乐观，乐观主义

参考例句：

• Don't pour cold water on their optimism.别给他们的乐观态度泼冷水。
• Optimism made him alive through the hard days.乐观主义使他在艰难的岁月里活了下来。