VOA慢速英语2021 美国企业督促拜登大胆制定2030年排放目标

U.S. businesses are urging the Biden administration to aim to cut greenhouse gases by at least 50 percent below 2005 levels by 2030. The more than 300 businesses and investors¹ include big companies such as Apple, Google, Microsoft and Coca-Cola.

美国企业督促拜登政府制定目标，在2030年前将温室气体排放量降低到2005年水平的50%以下。这300多家企业和投资者包括苹果、谷歌、微软和可口可乐等大公司。

The target would be nearly two times the nation's earlier goal and require major changes to the power, transportation and other industries. President Biden has promised to announce the 2030 goal before a virtual climate conference opens on April 22.

该目标将是美国早前目标的近两倍，并且需要对电力、运输和其它行业进行重大改革。拜登总统已经承诺在4月22日线上气候大会开幕前宣布2030年目标。

In a letter to Biden, the businesses said the U.S. needs a "bold" target to reach a carbon-free future and create millions of well-paying jobs.

这些企业在写给拜登的信中表示，美国需要制定一个“大胆的”目标，以实现零排放未来和创造数百万个高薪岗位。

Investing in clean energy and clean transportation "can build a strong, more equitable² and more inclusive American economy,″ they wrote. The letter was organized by We Mean Business, a group of companies that supports action to speed up a move to a carbon-free economy.

他们写道，在清洁能源和清洁交通上投资“可以建立强大、更公平和更具包容性的美国经济。”这封信由We Mean Business起草，这是一批支持采取行动加快迈向零排放经济的公司。

Companies with big energy holdings, including Exelon, General Electric, PG&E and Edison International, also signed the letter.

埃克森美孚、通用电气、太平洋煤电公司和艾迪生国际这些拥有大量能源控股企业的公司也签署了这封信。

Several European lawmakers, business executives and union leaders also recently urged the U.S. to cut its greenhouse gases in half by 2030. They called for a cooperative alliance to fight climate change and work toward a low-carbon economy.

数位欧洲议员、企业高管和工会领导人最近也督促美国在2030年前将温室气体排放量减少一半。他们呼吁建立合作联盟，以应对气候变化并致力于低碳经济。

The letter from U.S. business leaders to the Democratic president comes as breaks are growing between corporate³ America and the Republican Party. Corporations have begun distancing themselves from Republican conspiracy⁴ theories and rejections⁵ of climate science, as well as the refusal to accept the 2020 election results.

美国商界领袖写给民主党总统的这封信的出台，正值美国企业与共和党之间的分歧越来越大之际。企业已经开始开始同共和党的阴谋论、否认气候科学以及拒绝接受2020年大选结果划清界限。

Millions of Americans are already feeling the effects of climate change, the business leaders wrote to Biden. They noted⁶ the severe winter storm that caused electricity failures in Texas, deadly wildfires in California and record-breaking hurricanes in the South.

这些商界领袖致信拜登，称数以百万计的美国人已经感受到了气候变化的影响。他们提到了导致德州停电的强暴风雪，加州的致命山火以及南方创纪录的飓风。

Biden brought the U.S. back into the Paris climate agreement and has made climate issues central to his presidency⁷. But more action is needed, the business leaders wrote. An effective national climate plan "will require all of us,″ they added. The leaders noted that Biden alone can set the path by quickly "establishing a bold U.S. 2030 target.″

拜登带领美国重新加入了《巴黎气候协定》，并将气候问题作为他总统任期的核心。但是商界领袖写信称还需要采取更多行动。他们还说，一项有效的联邦气候计划“将需要我们所有人。”这些商界领导人指出，光拜登自己就能通过迅速制定美国2030年的大胆目标来设定路线。

1 investors   

n.投资者，出资者( investor的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• a con man who bilked investors out of millions of dollars 诈取投资者几百万元的骗子
• a cash bonanza for investors 投资者的赚钱机会

2 equitable   

adj.公平的；公正的

参考例句：

• This is an equitable solution to the dispute. 这是对该项争议的公正解决。
• Paying a person what he has earned is equitable. 酬其应得,乃公平之事。

3 corporate   

adj.共同的，全体的；公司的，企业的

参考例句：

• This is our corporate responsibility.这是我们共同的责任。
• His corporate's life will be as short as a rabbit's tail.他的公司的寿命是兔子尾巴长不了。

4 conspiracy   

n.阴谋，密谋，共谋

参考例句：

• The men were found guilty of conspiracy to murder.这些人被裁决犯有阴谋杀人罪。
• He claimed that it was all a conspiracy against him.他声称这一切都是一场针对他的阴谋。

5 rejections   

拒绝( rejection的名词复数 )； 摒弃； 剔除物； 排斥

参考例句：

• Most writers endure a number of rejections before being published. 大部分作家经历无数次的退稿才守得云开，作品得到发表。
• Supervise workers and monitors production quality to minimize rejections. 管理工人，监控生产质量，减少退货。

6 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

7 presidency   

n.总统(校长，总经理)的职位(任期)

参考例句：

• Roosevelt was elected four times to the presidency of the United States.罗斯福连续当选四届美国总统。
• Two candidates are emerging as contestants for the presidency.两位候选人最终成为总统职位竞争者。