voa标准英语2008-Australia Outlines Climate Change Blueprint

Australia has promised to introduce the most comprehensive carbon trading program outside Europe in 2010. The government in Canberra plans to cut greenhouse gas emissions¹ by at least five percent by 2020, but it could make bigger reductions if other countries agree to tougher targets.
　

Water utilities manager performs weekly checks at Pejar Dam, which is at less than 10 percent capacity, 180 kilometers from Sydney

The Australian government warns that without tough environmental measures the country could lose key industries and jobs.

Officials say decisive action needed

Climate Change Minister Penny Wong says the economy is under threat and decisive action is needed.

Central to the government's climate change plan is a carbon emissions trading program that will be introduced within two years. It would involve one thousand of the nation's biggest companies and would cover about three-quarters of Australia's greenhouse gas emissions.

Many scientists believe that greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide and methane², contribute to global warming. Many of them are released by burning fuels such as coal and oil.

Business leaders ask government to delay plan

Companies will be required to buy permits for each ton of carbon they emit, although big polluting exporters will receive up to 90 percent of their carbon licenses³ free.

Many business leaders want the government to delay the plan because of the current global financial crisis, which is slowing the Australian economy.

Peter Anderson from the Australian Chamber⁴ of Commerce and Industry says it is irresponsible to bring in a carbon trading plan now.

"It does beg the basic question and that is whether or not these costs can be borne by business in the first place at a time when Australia is going through an international economic firestorm and we need to come through that economic firestorm with a strong economy," Anderson noted⁵. "And placing domestic stress on the economy is just going to make that more difficult."

Environmentalists say more needs to be done

Environmentalists, on the other hand, say Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has not properly addressed the threat of climate change. Activists⁶ had sought a minimum emissions cut of 25 percent.

Instead, the Rudd government aims to cuts carbon emissions by at least five percent of 2000 levels by 2020. That amount could rise to 15 percent, if future global agreements set such a target.

Ray Nias of the environmental group WWF says Australia will pay the price for low targets.

"This is a deeply, deeply disappointing target," Nias said. "It commits Australia to long-term climate change. It will make Australia's ability to negotiate global agreements very, very difficult. It is much lower than even we had imaged the worst case being."

Australia has one of the highest per-capita greenhouse emissions rates in the world because of its reliance on coal for electricity.

Some scientists warn that the vast, arid⁷ Australian continent, which has been suffering a series of droughts in recent years, could be one of the region's hardest hit by global warming.

Australian farmers will be exempt⁸ from the carbon trading system for at least five years.

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 methane   

n.甲烷，沼气

参考例句：

• The blast was caused by pockets of methane gas that ignited.爆炸是由数袋甲烷气体着火引起的。
• Methane may have extraterrestrial significance.甲烷具有星际意义。

3 licenses   

n.执照( license的名词复数 )v.批准，许可，颁发执照( license的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• Drivers have ten days' grace to renew their licenses. 驾驶员更换执照有10天的宽限期。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• Jewish firms couldn't get import or export licenses or raw materials. 犹太人的企业得不到进出口许可证或原料。 来自辞典例句

4 chamber   

n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所

参考例句：

• For many,the dentist's surgery remains a torture chamber.对许多人来说，牙医的治疗室一直是间受刑室。
• The chamber was ablaze with light.会议厅里灯火辉煌。

5 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。

6 activists   

n.（政治活动的）积极分子，活动家( activist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• His research work was attacked by animal rights activists . 他的研究受到了动物权益维护者的抨击。
• Party activists with lower middle class pedigrees are numerous. 党的激进分子中有很多出身于中产阶级下层。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 arid   

adj.干旱的；(土地)贫瘠的

参考例句：

• These trees will shield off arid winds and protect the fields.这些树能挡住旱风,保护农田。
• There are serious problems of land degradation in some arid zones.在一些干旱地带存在严重的土地退化问题。

8 exempt   

adj.免除的；v.使免除；n.免税者，被免除义务者

参考例句：

• These goods are exempt from customs duties.这些货物免征关税。
• He is exempt from punishment about this thing.关于此事对他已免于处分。