VOA慢速英语2021 美国国家环保局采取行动减少与气候变化有关的气体（在线收听）

The United States Environmental Protection Agency has announced a new rule sharply limiting some gasses used in household machines.

美国国家环境保护局宣布了一项新规定，严格限制家用机器使用的一些气体。

The rule aims to reduce the use of hydrofluorocarbons, called HFCs, by 85 percent over the next 15 years.

该规定的目标是在未来15年内将氢氟碳化物的使用量减少85%。

HFCs are industrial chemicals used in appliances like refrigerators and air conditioners.

氢氟碳化物是用于冰箱和空调等家用电器的工业化学物质。

They also have other uses.

它们还有其他用途。

The Environmental Protection agency, or EPA, says the chemicals are greenhouse gasses.

美国国家环保局表示，这些化学物质是温室气体。

Such gasses trap heat in the Earth's atmosphere.

这种气体将热量滞留在地球大气层中。

The EPA says HFCs are thousands of times more powerful than carbon dioxide in trapping heat.

美国国家环保局表示，氢氟碳化物的吸热能力是二氧化碳的数千倍。

The new rule is expected to take effect in late October.

新规定预计将于10月下旬生效。

The EPA said in a statement that limiting the use of HFCs worldwide is expected to avoid up to 0.5 degrees Celsius of global warming by 2100.

美国国家环保局在一份声明中表示，到2100年，在全球范围内限制氢氟碳化物的使用有望避免全球变暖高达0.5摄氏度。

Gina McCarthy is the National Climate Advisor.

吉娜·麦卡锡是国家气候顾问。

She told reporters recently that the rule "really sends a signal to the rest of the world that we are all in on climate change."

她最近告诉记者，这一规定“确实向世界其他地区发出了一个信号，即我们都在应对气候变化。”

The rule was announced about six weeks before the United Nations climate meeting in Glasgow, Scotland.

这一规定是在联合国气候变化大会在苏格兰格拉斯哥召开前大约六周宣布的。

President Joe Biden has already issued an executive action aimed at climate change.

乔·拜登总统已经发布了一项针对气候变化的行政措施。

Reports say he is expected to announce several climate measures through executive actions.

报道称，预计他将通过行政措施宣布几项气候措施。

Other climate proposals are in spending legislation being considered by Congress.

国会正在考虑其他气候提案。

The EPA said the new rule is one of the most "consequential" in its effects on the climate.

美国国家环保局表示，这项新规定对气候的影响最为“深远”。

Along with other measures, the Biden administration said the rule can reduce 4.5 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide by 2050.

拜登政府表示，与其他措施一起，到2050年，这项规定可以减少45亿吨二氧化碳。

That is equal to almost three years' worth of gasses released by the U.S. power industry at 2019 levels.

这相当于美国电力行业按2019年排放量排放的将近三年的气体量。

Environmental and business groups supported the new HFC rules.

环保和商业团体支持新的HFC规定。

The Biden administration said it is also creating an interagency group to reduce HFCs, including preventing the illegal trade, production, sale or use of the climate-damaging gases.

拜登政府表示，它还将成立一个跨部门小组来减少氢氟碳化物，包括防止这种破坏气候的气体的非法贸易、生产、销售或使用。

The group led by the EPA and the Department of Homeland Security will punish violations of the law.

由美国国家环保局和国土安全部领导的这个小组将对违反法律的行为进行惩罚。

The EPA rule also creates a complex trading system that permits some use and trade of the chemicals.

美国国家环保局的规定还创建了一个复杂的交易系统，允许某些化学品的使用和交易。

The rule brings the U.S. in agreement with an amendment to the 1987 Montreal Protocol.

这项规定使美国同意了1987年蒙特利尔议定书的修正案。

That is an international treaty aimed at reducing chemicals that damage the Earth's ozone, a layer of oxygen that blocks harmful solar radiation.

这是一项旨在减少破坏地球臭氧层的化学物质的国际条约。臭氧层是一层氧气，可以阻挡有害的太阳辐射。

The United States has not yet approved the amendment.

美国尚未批准该修正案。

McCarthy said she does not know when Biden will send the amendment to the treaty to the Senate for approval.

麦卡锡说，她不知道拜登何时会把这项条约修正案提交参议院批准。