VOA常速英语2016--《巴黎协定》或将付诸实践

《巴黎协定》或将付诸实践

Climate change is a defining issue of our time, and one where U.S. leadership has made a real and measurable difference. Confronting this challenge will require a sustained global effort to ensure that our planet remains¹ a safe and livable place for future generations. In the words of Secretary of State John Kerry:

气候变化是当下的重要议题，也是美国起到实质巨大领导作用的议题。面对这一挑战需要全球持续的努力，以确保地球对子孙后代来讲依然是安全、可居住的环境。对此，美国国务卿约翰如是说道：

“These high temperatures are already having consequences, already people dying in the heat, already people moving because of lack of water, already we have climate refugees on this planet, already we see more powerful storm surges, already we see lower productivity in many industries, and serious impacts on public health and well-being². We know there are diseases that used to die because it got cold and it doesn't get cold. We know that species are moving and that the ecosystem³ of the planet, including the oceans, is changing.”

“全球气温升高已经产生了很多后果，已经有人在炎热中濒危，已经有人因为缺水而搬离家园，已经有了环境难民，我们已经见证了更具破坏性的风暴此起彼伏，见证了很多工业的生产力降低，见证了公众健康和民生福祉所遭受的严重影响。我们知道，过去有很多疾病是因为温度低而消亡的，而现在的全球温度却并不低。我们知道，很多物种都在迁移，并且包括海洋在内的地球生态系统正在不断改变”。

The good news is that we still have a chance to prevent some of the worst impacts of climate change and adapt to those changes that we can't prevent, said Secretary of State Kerry at a United Nations event celebrating countries who have joined or will join the Paris Agreement. The Agreement is an enormous step in the right direction.

好消息是，我们依然有机会气候变化的一些最恶劣影响，有机会适应我们无法阻止的这些变化，约翰在联合国某次庆祝已经加入或即将加入《巴黎协定》国家的活动上如是说道。《巴黎协定》是正确方向上迈出的巨大的一步。voacs1005.jpg

“I am confident we will bring this agreement into force this year, and that message ... will demonstrate to the world just how serious we are,” said Secretary of State Kerry.

约翰表示，“我相信，今年我们会将《巴黎协定》付诸实践，而这一信息也会向世界证明我们是认真的”。

“In Paris, a remarkable⁴ thing happened. More than 185 countries came together; more than 175 signed on. In Paris, we began to rewrite the ending of this story.

“巴黎已经发生了一件了不起的事情：超过185个国家聚集在一起，其中，超过175个签订了《巴黎协定》。我们已经开始在巴黎续写故事的结尾”。

 

“It will be a story of how the world came together in the greatest aspirations⁵ of United Nations, of this institution, to embrace this moment and to safeguard the future of this planet for generations to come. That is this mission, nothing less, and we intend to get the job done.”

“在这个故事里，全世界将会在美国和《巴黎协定》的巨大希冀下合力，拥抱这一时刻，为子孙后代保护地球的未来。这就是我们的使命，这就是，并且我们有志于完成这一使命”。

1 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

2 well-being   

n.安康，安乐，幸福

参考例句：

• He always has the well-being of the masses at heart.他总是把群众的疾苦挂在心上。
• My concern for their well-being was misunderstood as interference.我关心他们的幸福，却被误解为多管闲事。

3 ecosystem   

n.生态系统

参考例句：

• This destroyed the ecosystem of the island.这样破坏了岛上的生态系统。
• We all have an interest in maintaining the integrity of the ecosystem.维持生态系统的完整是我们共同的利益。

4 remarkable   

adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的

参考例句：

• She has made remarkable headway in her writing skills.她在写作技巧方面有了长足进步。
• These cars are remarkable for the quietness of their engines.这些汽车因发动机没有噪音而不同凡响。

5 aspirations   

强烈的愿望( aspiration的名词复数 )； 志向； 发送气音； 发 h 音

参考例句：

• I didn't realize you had political aspirations. 我没有意识到你有政治上的抱负。
• The new treaty embodies the aspirations of most nonaligned countries. 新条约体现了大多数不结盟国家的愿望。