VOA标准英语2009年-UN Leads Call to Slow Global Warming

By Margaret Besheer
United Nations
19 September 2009
The United Nations is keeping itself at the forefront of international efforts to slow global warming. U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has made climate change his signature issue, and he is trying to spur negotiations¹ for a new global climate treaty by bringing about 100 heads of state and government together for a summit. Their meeting (September 22) on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly session could signal whether the treaty will make progress at a meeting in Copenhagen later this year.

Scientists say the Earth is changing, and not for the better. Glaciers² are melting too fast, sea levels are rising and severe weather is more frequent, with floods or drought affecting crops and livestock⁴.

The scientists say the outlook could be bleak⁵ for future generations unless the rate of global warming slows down significantly.

 
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon visits the Arctic Circle
U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon saw the problem up close on his recent visit to the Arctic.

"Standing⁶ on the Arctic ice I felt the immense power of nature," he said. "At the same time, I felt a great sense of urgency, as well as a sense of vulnerability for our world. Because I have seen these glaciers were melting and glaciers were thinning and if we would not take any urgent action to stop this further glacier³ melting, scientists warn us by 2030 we may have a virtually ice-free Arctic."

The main culprit in global warming is the rising level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. It is released through processes such as the burning of oil and coal and the chopping down of forests. Industry, modern agriculture and deforestation in all countries contribute to global warming, but many experts say China, the United States, Brazil and Indonesia are responsible for the most carbon emissions⁷.

The international community wants a new global climate treaty to reduce carbon emissions, and the hope is that negotiations could produce agreement at a meeting in Denmark's capital in December.

The secretary-general is trying to give those negotiations a political boost by convening⁹ a climate-change summit Tuesday, with 100 world leaders expected to attend, as delegates gather for the U.N. General Assembly's annual debate.

Andrew Deutz of the Nature Conservancy says the leaders must commit to serious greenhouse-gas emission⁸ reductions. The target is at least 25 to 40 percent by the time they get to Copenhagen.

"We want emissions reductions commitments among the wealthy countries of the world," he said. "We want the developing countries to agree to start reducing the growth of their emissions. They can't continue to grow their emissions at the rate they have, but we want their economies to continue to grow."

The U.N. is seeking reduced emissions and ways to give developing countries financial and technological¹⁰ help, so they can adapt to the impact of climate change. But that won't be cheap. The United Nations and others estimate it could cost $400 billion to $600 billion a year.

"That sounds like a really big number, until you look at what the stimulus¹¹ package cost in the United States, until you look at what we spent to bail¹² out AIG [the insurance company]," he added. "The first bailout was $700 billion. So dealing¹³ with climate change in all the 130 developing countries around the world every year costs less than what we spent to bail out Wall Street."

While negotiators work to hash out a deal by December, the secretary-general says we can all do our part to help the Earth. He told VOA small lifestyle changes can make a difference, and he is practicing what he preaches.

"Wherever I travel, wherever I stay, I have been always turning off lights. And I have been using very sparingly this water, and I have been minimizing my carbon footprint. And I'm really trying to lead by example myself," said Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.

The secretary-general says it is urgent that the international community comes together to seal the deal in Copenhagen, because the planet cannot wait.

1 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。

2 glaciers   

冰河，冰川( glacier的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Glaciers gouged out valleys from the hills. 冰川把丘陵地带冲出一条条山谷。
• It has ice and snow glaciers, rainforests and beautiful mountains. 既有冰川，又有雨林和秀丽的山峰。 来自英语晨读30分（高一）

3 glacier   

n.冰川，冰河

参考例句：

• The glacier calved a large iceberg.冰河崩解而形成一个大冰山。
• The upper surface of glacier is riven by crevasses.冰川的上表面已裂成冰隙。

4 livestock   

n.家畜，牲畜

参考例句：

• Both men and livestock are flourishing.人畜两旺。
• The heavy rains and flooding killed scores of livestock.暴雨和大水淹死了许多牲口。

5 bleak   

adj.(天气)阴冷的；凄凉的；暗淡的

参考例句：

• They showed me into a bleak waiting room.他们引我来到一间阴冷的会客室。
• The company's prospects look pretty bleak.这家公司的前景异常暗淡。

6 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

7 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。

8 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。

9 convening   

召开( convene的现在分词 )； 召集； （为正式会议而）聚集； 集合

参考例句：

• When convening the assembly, however, you shall blow without sounding an alarm. 民10:7但招聚会众的时候、们要吹号、不要吹出大声。
• We warmly welcome the convening of Asia-Europe meeting in London. 热烈欢迎亚欧会议在伦敦召开。

10 technological   

adj.技术的；工艺的

参考例句：

• A successful company must keep up with the pace of technological change.一家成功的公司必须得跟上技术变革的步伐。
• Today,the pace of life is increasing with technological advancements.当今， 随着科技进步，生活节奏不断增快。

11 stimulus   

n.刺激，刺激物，促进因素，引起兴奋的事物

参考例句：

• Regard each failure as a stimulus to further efforts.把每次失利看成对进一步努力的激励。
• Light is a stimulus to growth in plants.光是促进植物生长的一个因素。

12 bail   

v.舀（水），保释；n.保证金，保释，保释人

参考例句：

• One of the prisoner's friends offered to bail him out.犯人的一个朋友答应保释他出来。
• She has been granted conditional bail.她被准予有条件保释。

13 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。