VOA标准英语2009年-Africa to Seek Billions in Climate Change

The African Union is considering a proposal to demand at least $67 billion a year in environmental damages from developed countries at the Copenhagen Climate summit in December. Africa is seeking a common position to increase its bargaining power in Copenhagen.

Representatives of several African heads of state met at AU headquarters Monday to determine how much the continent should ask in compensation at the UN climate summit in December.

A concept paper obtained by VOA says the flow of money to support 'adaptation to changes in climate' must be at least $67 billion a year by the year 2020.

In all, the paper recommends that developed countries commit to paying one-half percent of Gross Domestic Product, or GDP for 'climate action' in poorer countries.

Diplomats¹ attending a closed-door session say several countries argued that the demand should be much higher in view of the severe environmental damage facing the continent.

At the opening ceremony, AU Rural Economy and Agriculture Commissioner² Rhoda Peace Tumusiime said Africa is one of the main victims of global warming.

"The global carbon trading mechanism³ that are expected to emerge from international negotiations⁴ on climate change should give Africa an opportunity to demand and get compensation for the damage to its economy caused by global warming, bearing in mind the fact that, despite contributing virtually nothing to global warming, Africa has been one of the primary victims of its consequences," she said.

The proposal being considered by African representatives says polluting countries must reduce their greenhouse gas emissions⁵ by at least 40 percent below 1990 levels within 10 years, and by up to 95 percent below 1990 levels by 2050.

The lead expert representing Ethiopia at the meetings, Desalegn Mesfin, spoke⁶ of catastrophic consequences, unless the world takes urgent action.

"Addressing the climate agenda very soon is a matter of ensuring the continuation of life on earth. Otherwise, the unexpected end of the world will take place," said Mesfin.

Desalegn warned that, unless the African group agrees on a common position within the next few weeks, it may be too late to make an effective negotiating stance at the Copenhagen climate summit.

The Addis Ababa meeting is in preparation for high level negotiations to be held next week on the sidelines of a special African summit in Tripoli. The summit on peace and security issues was called by the current AU Chairman, Libyan leader Muammar Gadhafi.

1 diplomats   

n.外交官( diplomat的名词复数 )；有手腕的人，善于交际的人

参考例句：

• These events led to the expulsion of senior diplomats from the country. 这些事件导致一些高级外交官被驱逐出境。
• The court has no jurisdiction over foreign diplomats living in this country. 法院对驻本国的外交官无裁判权。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 commissioner   

n.（政府厅、局、处等部门）专员，长官，委员

参考例句：

• The commissioner has issued a warrant for her arrest.专员发出了对她的逮捕令。
• He was tapped for police commissioner.他被任命为警务处长。

3 mechanism   

n.机械装置；机构，结构

参考例句：

• The bones and muscles are parts of the mechanism of the body.骨骼和肌肉是人体的组成部件。
• The mechanism of the machine is very complicated.这台机器的结构是非常复杂的。

4 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。

5 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。

6 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。