VOA标准英语2009年-Obama, EU Push for Climate Deal

By Paula Wolfson
White House
03 November 2009

 
President Barack Obama hosts a climate summit at the White House, 03 Nov 2009
The United States and the European Union are launching a renewed push for an international climate deal.  Prospects¹ for such an agreement dominated their latest summit, which was hosted at the White House by President Barack Obama. 

President Obama says the U.S. and the EU are intensifying² efforts to get a climate deal next month, when negotiators from around the world meet in Denmark.

"We discussed climate change extensively and all of us agreed that it was imperative³ for us to redouble our efforts in the weeks between now and the Copenhagen meeting to assure that we create a framework for progress in dealing⁴ with what is a potential ecologic disaster," said President Obama.

In a brief statement to reporters after the summit, Mr. Obama did not spell out a specific strategy designed to secure agreement, but European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso was upbeat that a deal could be struck.

"With the strong leadership of the United States we can indeed make an agreement," said Jose Manuel Barroso. "We are working on a framework agreement in Copenhagen that will be an important agreement for the world."

Other issues discussed at the U.S - EU summit included Afghanistan, Iran, and ways to foster greater cooperation in combating terrorism.

They also talked at some length about economic matters. President Obama indicated all sides want progress on trade.

"We reaffirmed our commitment to strong, sustained economic growth as was articulated by the G-20 in Pittsburgh, and reaffirmed our intent to continue to expand trade and resist protectionist measures between the United States and the European Union," said Mr. Obama.

The U.S. and the EU as a group have the largest trading relationship in the world. The European Union says trans-Atlantic flows of trade and investment amount to about $1 billion a day.

1 prospects   

n.希望，前途(恒为复数)

参考例句：

• There is a mood of pessimism in the company about future job prospects. 公司中有一种对工作前景悲观的情绪。
• They are less sanguine about the company's long-term prospects. 他们对公司的远景不那么乐观。

2 intensifying   

v.（使）增强， （使）加剧( intensify的现在分词 )；增辉

参考例句：

• The allies are intensifying their air campaign. 联军部队正加大他们的空战强度。 来自辞典例句
• The rest of the European powers were in a state of intensifying congestion. 其余的欧洲强国则处于越来越拥挤的状态。 来自英汉非文学 - 历史

3 imperative   

n.命令，需要；规则；祈使语气；adj.强制的；紧急的

参考例句：

• He always speaks in an imperative tone of voice.他老是用命令的口吻讲话。
• The events of the past few days make it imperative for her to act.过去这几天发生的事迫使她不得不立即行动。

4 dealing   

n.经商方法，待人态度

参考例句：

• This store has an excellent reputation for fair dealing.该商店因买卖公道而享有极高的声誉。
• His fair dealing earned our confidence.他的诚实的行为获得我们的信任。