VOA常速英语2019--保护海洋 刻不容缓

The world’s oceans make life on this planet possible. They help regulate the global climate, absorb carbon dioxide and provide food and livelihood¹ for billions of people. But even though they cover more than 70% of the Earth’s surface, our oceans are being overwhelmed by an avalanche² of plastics, overfishing and increasing temperatures brought about by climate change, and if there is one message the attendees at this year’s World’s Oceans Summit tried to send, it’s that something must be done to protect them.

地球上的海洋让生命的存在成为可能。海洋可以调节全球气候、吸收二氧化碳并为数十亿人提供食物和生命所需。但即便海洋占地球表面积的70%以上，但海洋还是为各种垃圾、过度捕鱼以及气候变化引起的气温上升所扰。如果今年世界海洋峰会的与会者们要传达某个信息的话，那一定是我们要采取行动来保护海洋。

That’s pretty obvious. What is required which is for societal change and radical³ change in fact because the news that we have had from our scientist, and I refer particularly to the IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) is that we are trending in a very hazardous⁴ cause.

这很明显。我们需要的是社会变革和根本变革，因为科学家向我们传递的信息，尤其是政府间气候变化专门委员会（IPCC）的科学家们传递的信息，即我们正在走向一条危险的道路。

And it’s not just radical change sometimes soon-- these advocates are calling for radical change now. But we have still got time over the next 10 years to lower our GHG (Greenhouse Gas) emissions⁵ to a level whereby we will not hit that 2 degree warming stage which as you would know, once we get to 2 degrees, we’re currently training towards 3 degrees. Once we get to 2 degrees, we lose all coral reefs, for example, in the world.

不是呼吁不久以后的根本变革--这些倡导者现在就在呼吁进行根本变革。但我们未来10年中依然有时间减少温室气体（GHG）排放量，将其减少到不会导致2度变暖情况出现的程度。因为大家都知道，一旦全球变暖2度，那离变暖3度也就不远了。比如，一旦变暖2度，全球所有的珊瑚礁都会灭绝。

The biggest declaration to come out of the summit is the Blue Prosperity Coalition⁶ which has the audacious goal declaring 30% of the world’s oceans off-limits to fishing by 2030. We’ve over-fished the oceans, we have, you know, in my opinion, five to ten years to really reverse the trends as before or it’s going to be too late. We rely on the oceans for so many things, livelihoods⁷, the food we eat, the air we breathe. The oceans sequester⁸ a ton of carbon and if we don’t fix the oceans now, it’s gonna be too late. The coalition needs a lot more buy-in from world governments but signatories say with smart management they can accomplish their goals while maintaining fishing yields and without causing undue⁹ economic hardship.

本次会议所表的最重要的决心就是“蓝色繁荣联盟”，这是一个宏大的目标，即在2030年之前实现全球30%的海洋禁止捕捞。海洋已经过渡捕捞了，我认为，我们只有5-10奶奶的时间来扭转这种趋势，如果错失，就为时过晚。我们在很多方面都依赖于海洋：生计、所吃的食物、所呼吸的空气。海洋可以吸收大量的二氧化碳，如果现在不解决海洋的问题，就来不及了。该联盟需要各国政府更多的投入，但一些签约过表示，通过明智的管理方式，他们可以在完成目标的同时保证渔业产，而且不会造成过度的经济困难。

1 livelihood   

n.生计，谋生之道

参考例句：

• Appropriate arrangements will be made for their work and livelihood.他们的工作和生活会得到妥善安排。
• My father gained a bare livelihood of family by his own hands.父亲靠自己的双手勉强维持家计。

2 avalanche   

n.雪崩，大量涌来

参考例句：

• They were killed by an avalanche in the Swiss Alps.他们在瑞士阿尔卑斯山的一次雪崩中罹难。
• Higher still the snow was ready to avalanche.在更高处积雪随时都会崩塌。

3 radical   

n.激进份子，原子团，根号；adj.根本的，激进的，彻底的

参考例句：

• The patient got a radical cure in the hospital.病人在医院得到了根治。
• She is radical in her demands.她的要求十分偏激。

4 hazardous   

adj.(有)危险的，冒险的；碰运气的

参考例句：

• These conditions are very hazardous for shipping.这些情况对航海非常不利。
• Everybody said that it was a hazardous investment.大家都说那是一次危险的投资。

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 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。

7 livelihoods   

生计，谋生之道( livelihood的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• First came the earliest individualistic pioneers who depended on hunting and fishing for their livelihoods. 走在最前面的是早期的个人主义先驱者，他们靠狩猎捕鱼为生。 来自英汉非文学 - 政府文件
• With little influence over policies, their traditional livelihoods are threatened. 因为马赛族人对政策的影响力太小，他们的传统生计受到了威胁。

8 sequester   

vt.使退隐，使隔绝

参考例句：

• Everything he owned was sequestered.他的所有财产都被扣押了。
• This jury is expected to be sequestered for at least two months.预计这个陪审团将至少被隔离两个月。

9 undue   

adj.过分的；不适当的；未到期的

参考例句：

• Don't treat the matter with undue haste.不要过急地处理此事。
• It would be wise not to give undue importance to his criticisms.最好不要过分看重他的批评。