欧盟减少使用胶袋

 　　欧盟减少使用胶袋

　　BRUSSELS, April 22 (Xinhua) -- The European Union (EU) on Tuesday moved a step closer to its aim of an 80 percent reduction in the use of lightweight plastic bags in Europe.

　　The European Parliament passed an European Commission proposal requesting member states to reduce their use of lightweight plastic carrier bags, by choosing the measures they find most appropriate, including charges, national reduction targets or a ban under certain conditions.

　　According to EU statistics, more than 8 billion plastic bags end up as litter in Europe every year, causing enormous environmental damage. Some member states have already achieved great results in terms of reducing their use of plastic bags.

　　The European Commissioner¹ for Environment Janez Potocnik on Tuesday called on the new European Parliament after the upcoming elections to try to push for rapid adoption² of the initiative.

　　"The huge and growing consumption rates of plastic bags -- 100 billion bags per year in the EU alone -- demonstrates a reckless waste of resources. Plastic bags are a symbol of our throw-away society and unsustainable lifestyles," said Potocnik in a statement.

　　"We use them for a few minutes, but their legacy³ lasts for hundreds of years, often as harmful microscopic⁴ particles that are damaging the environment worldwide, especially the marine⁵ environment. In the North Sea, the stomachs of 94 percent of all birds contain plastic," he added.

1 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。

2 adoption   

n.采用，采纳，通过；收养

参考例句：

• An adoption agency had sent the boys to two different families.一个收养机构把他们送给两个不同的家庭。
• The adoption of this policy would relieve them of a tremendous burden.采取这一政策会给他们解除一个巨大的负担。

3 legacy   

n.遗产，遗赠；先人(或过去)留下的东西

参考例句：

• They are the most precious cultural legacy our forefathers left.它们是我们祖先留下来的最宝贵的文化遗产。
• He thinks the legacy is a gift from the Gods.他认为这笔遗产是天赐之物。

4 microscopic   

adj.微小的，细微的，极小的，显微的

参考例句：

• It's impossible to read his microscopic handwriting.不可能看清他那极小的书写字迹。
• A plant's lungs are the microscopic pores in its leaves.植物的肺就是其叶片上微细的气孔。

5 marine   

adj.海的；海生的；航海的；海事的；n.水兵

参考例句：

• Marine creatures are those which live in the sea. 海洋生物是生存在海里的生物。
• When the war broke out,he volunteered for the Marine Corps.战争爆发时，他自愿参加了海军陆战队。