VOA标准英语2010年-British Election Helps Boost Green Mov

Environmentalists in Britain were rejoicing after the country's recent election. The Green Party won its first seat in Parliament, and the new Prime Minister, David Cameron, said his government would be the "greenest" in British history.  But with opinion polls showing a decline in the public's concern about global warming, the question is whether the government will be able to implement¹ real "green" change.

In the recent elections, Caroline Lucas became Britain's first Green Party member of Parliament. 

It's a major step forward says Jean Lambert, who is a Green Party member of Europe's Parliament.

"It's really symbolic². People now feel that, yes, it's possible for the Greens to start cracking the system and get in there," said Lambert.

 

Prime Minister David Cameron says he wants to combat climate change and that his government will be the "greenest" ever.

He's promised to cancel the expansion Heathrow airport, one of Europe's busiest.  It's been a goal of Britain's green movement for the past few years.

But the news is not all good for Britain's environmentalists. 

A recent poll found that only 26 percent of Britons believe climate change is happening and is man-made.  And the new coalition³ government has not yet laid out specific plans for cutting carbon emissions⁴ or funding a low-carbon economy.

These are the kinds of issues that delegates to a United Nations environmental conference are working on as they meet in Germany this month.  But Joss Garman from the environmental group Greenpeace says governments should focus first on their own energy policies.

"Ultimately, all the governments of the world are agreed that we still need a global deal to deal with climate change but we haven't got the privilege or the time to waste just going to more talks about talks about talks," said Garman.  "What we need to be doing is actually delivering on clean energy at home."

If Britain cuts its own emissions, he says, the impact will be global.  He adds that developing economies are looking at the developed world as a role model and that was obvious at last December's climate conference in Copenhagen.

"They looked to us and said, 'Why would we, with a huge stock pile of coal and lots of different dirty industries and the need to lift people out of poverty through economic growth? Why would we change our business model when you're not even doing it yourself?'" added Garman.

Stopping the expansion at Heathrow airport, he says, is a sign that Britain is changing.  But that's only the first step, he says, and many more are needed if the new government can fulfill⁵ its promise to be the "greenest" in Britain's history.
 

1 implement   

n.(pl.)工具，器具；vt.实行，实施，执行

参考例句：

• Don't undertake a project unless you can implement it.不要承担一项计划，除非你能完成这项计划。
• The best implement for digging a garden is a spade.在花园里挖土的最好工具是铁锹。

2 symbolic   

adj.象征性的，符号的，象征主义的

参考例句：

• It is symbolic of the fighting spirit of modern womanhood.它象征着现代妇女的战斗精神。
• The Christian ceremony of baptism is a symbolic act.基督教的洗礼仪式是一种象征性的做法。

3 coalition   

n.结合体，同盟，结合，联合

参考例句：

• The several parties formed a coalition.这几个政党组成了政治联盟。
• Coalition forces take great care to avoid civilian casualties.联盟军队竭尽全力避免造成平民伤亡。

4 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。

5 fulfill   

vt.履行，实现，完成；满足，使满意

参考例句：

• If you make a promise you should fulfill it.如果你许诺了，你就要履行你的诺言。
• This company should be able to fulfill our requirements.这家公司应该能够满足我们的要求。