VOA常速英语2007年-US, EU Deadlock Over Emission Cuts May Derail C

By Nancy-Amelia Collins
Bali, Indonesia
13 December 2007

The head of the United Nations Climate Change Conference is warning that a deadlock¹ between the United States and the European Union over greenhouse gas emission² targets may derail the conference. VOA's Nancy-Amelia Collins reports from the convention site in Bali.

From the start, officials here have emphasized that the aim of the Climate Change Conference is only to get negotiations³ started on a new global effort against climate change. These negotiations are to lead to a replacement⁴ for the Kyoto Protocol⁵ on climate change, which will expire in 2012.

However, a split has emerged at the conference here between the European Union and the United States, over whether or not to set firm targets for cuts in greenhouse emissions⁶. Yvo de Boer, who is heading the U.N.-sponsored meeting, warned Thursday that the deadlock is threatening to derail the desired negotiations.

"I think what's at stake here for the United States, and in fact for everybody else that's here, is whether we can put in place in time a long-term climate policy that will kick in when the Kyoto Protocol's first commitment period expires in 2012," he said. "And I think everybody, including the United States, has come here with the stated desire to formally launch negotiations."

The dispute led European nations Thursday to threaten to boycott⁷ U.S.-sponsored climate talks next month unless Washington changes its mind.

The EU and the vast majority of the 190 nations participating in the conference want to set a target of a 25 percent to 40 percent cut in emissions. The U.S., along with Canada and Japan, are refusing to agree to any targets at this point.

The EU and others say it is important to set targets now, to get a head start in the fight against global warming. The U.S. says targets should come later, after negotiations begin.

The U.S., one of the world's two largest emitters of greenhouse gases, is the only major industrialized nation not to sign the Kyoto Protocol.

De Boer says scientific evidence of global warming should be sufficient to convince all nations of the need for urgent action.

"I think it will be incredibly difficult for any politician to leave here and go back home and explain that he or she has provided no political answer to what the scientific community has been saying," he said. "I think that that's what's at stake for everyone, including the United States."

The U.S. undersecretary of state for democracy and global affairs, Paula Dobriansky, is heading the U.S. delegation⁸ here. She says she hopes for a consensus⁹ before the conference ends Friday.

"We still have some work to do today and tomorrow," she said. "We are hopeful though that we can find a way to bridge remaining differences and reach consensus on a Bali road map."

Another point of contention¹⁰ here is a demand from developing nations that rich countries help poorer countries develop clean technology and clean sources of energy.

1 deadlock   

n.僵局，僵持

参考例句：

• The negotiations reached a deadlock after two hours.两小时后，谈判陷入了僵局。
• The employers and strikers are at a deadlock over the wage.雇主和罢工者在工资问题上相持不下。

2 emission   

n.发出物，散发物；发出，散发

参考例句：

• Rigorous measures will be taken to reduce the total pollutant emission.采取严格有力措施，降低污染物排放总量。
• Finally,the way to effectively control particulate emission is pointed out.最后，指出有效降低颗粒排放的方向。

3 negotiations   

协商( negotiation的名词复数 )； 谈判； 完成（难事）； 通过

参考例句：

• negotiations for a durable peace 为持久和平而进行的谈判
• Negotiations have failed to establish any middle ground. 谈判未能达成任何妥协。

4 replacement   

n.取代，替换，交换；替代品，代用品

参考例句：

• We are hard put to find a replacement for our assistant.我们很难找到一个人来代替我们的助手。
• They put all the students through the replacement examination.他们让所有的学生参加分班考试。

5 protocol   

n.议定书，草约，会谈记录，外交礼节

参考例句：

• We must observe the correct protocol.我们必须遵守应有的礼仪。
• The statesmen signed a protocol.那些政治家签了议定书。

6 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。

7 boycott   

n./v.(联合)抵制，拒绝参与

参考例句：

• We put the production under a boycott.我们联合抵制该商品。
• The boycott lasts a year until the Victoria board permitsreturn.这个抗争持续了一年直到维多利亚教育局妥协为止。

8 delegation   

n.代表团；派遣

参考例句：

• The statement of our delegation was singularly appropriate to the occasion.我们代表团的声明非常适合时宜。
• We shall inform you of the date of the delegation's arrival.我们将把代表团到达的日期通知你。

9 consensus   

n.(意见等的)一致，一致同意，共识

参考例句：

• Can we reach a consensus on this issue?我们能在这个问题上取得一致意见吗？
• What is the consensus of opinion at the afternoon meeting?下午会议上一致的意见是什么？

10 contention   

n.争论，争辩，论战；论点，主张

参考例句：

• The pay increase is the key point of contention. 加薪是争论的焦点。
• The real bone of contention,as you know,is money.你知道，争论的真正焦点是钱的问题。