2016年CRI China vows stronger cooperation as Paris Agreement takes effect

 

In his speech marking the occasion, UN chief Ban Ki-moon praised the resolve of governments and civil society groups for passing the deal to tackle climate change.

"Today we make history in humankind's effort to combat climate change. The landmark¹ Paris Agreement on climate change has entered into force. At a time of record heat, member states embraced this agreement in record time."

The Paris Agreement was signed by 192 UN parties last December. It seeks to wean the world economy off fossil fuels in the second half of the century, limiting the rise in average world temperatures to "well below" 2 degrees Celsius² above pre-industrial times.

The accord won swift backing last December by almost 200 countries including China, the United States and the European Union.

A month ago, it passed the vital threshold of 55 nations accounting³ for more than 55 percent of greenhouse gas emissions⁴, allowing it to come into force 30 days later.

China signed the agreement on April 22, the first day it was open for signature, and ratified⁶ it on September 3.

In a congratulatory letter on Friday, Chinese President Xi Jinping hailed it as one of the fastest international accords in history to come into force.

He vowed⁷ China would act positively⁸ and forcefully in promoting a low-carbon, recycling economy and combating climate change.

Foreign Ministry⁹ spokesperson Hua Chunying said China is willing to join the efforts to promote the follow-up negotiations¹⁰ of the Paris Agreement.

"China is willing to continue strengthening cooperation with various parties of the international community on climate change to promote the effective implementation¹¹ of the Paris Agreement, the follow-up negotiations, and the green, low-carbon and sustainable development of the world according to the principle that emphasizes fair, common but differentiated¹³ responsibilities and capabilities¹⁴."

China has set goals to reduce carbon dioxide emissions per unit of GDP by 60~65 percent by 2030 as compared with that of 2005.

It also aims to raise the proportion of non-fossil energy in the total energy market to about 20 percent by 2030 and make carbon dioxide emission⁵ reach its peak by 2030 or as early as possible.

The country is also striving to increase its forest stock volume by 4.5 billion cubic meters by 2030 over that of 2005.

Nicholas Stern, a climate change and environment expert at the London School of Economics, is confident that China will honor its commitments to the agreement.

"China is moving strongly in that direction, partly through energy efficiency, using energy much more efficiently¹⁵, partly by using other forms of energy. So China is showing that it is possible to cut back on coal, to cut back on air pollution, to cut back on greenhouse gas emissions."

But scientists and policy makers¹⁶ say the agreement entering into force is just the first step of a much longer and complicated process of transitioning away from fossil fuels, which currently supply the bulk of the planet's energy needs.

In his speech, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon urged the world to keep up the pace.

"Our challenge is to sustain the momentum¹⁷ that has propelled the agreement into force. We remain in a race against time. But with the Paris agreement and the 2030 agenda for sustainable development, the world has the plans we need to make the shift to a lower emission, climate resilient path."

The latest round of U.N. climate talks begins on Monday in Marrakesh, Morocco, where representatives from countries will try to find practical ways to implement¹² the agreement.

1 landmark   

n.陆标，划时代的事，地界标

参考例句：

• The Russian Revolution represents a landmark in world history.俄国革命是世界历史上的一个里程碑。
• The tower was once a landmark for ships.这座塔曾是船只的陆标。

2 Celsius   

adj.摄氏温度计的，摄氏的

参考例句：

• The temperature tonight will fall to seven degrees Celsius.今晚气温将下降到七摄氏度。
• The maximum temperature in July may be 36 degrees Celsius.七月份最高温度可能达到36摄氏度。

3 accounting   

n.会计，会计学，借贷对照表

参考例句：

• A job fell vacant in the accounting department.财会部出现了一个空缺。
• There's an accounting error in this entry.这笔账目里有差错。

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 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。

6 ratified   

v.批准，签认（合约等）( ratify的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The treaty was declared invalid because it had not been ratified. 条约没有得到批准，因此被宣布无效。
• The treaty was ratified by all the member states. 这个条约得到了所有成员国的批准。

7 vowed   

起誓，发誓（vow的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• He vowed quite solemnly that he would carry out his promise. 他非常庄严地发誓要实现他的诺言。
• I vowed to do more of the cooking myself. 我发誓自己要多动手做饭。

8 positively   

adv.明确地，断然，坚决地；实在，确实

参考例句：

• She was positively glowing with happiness.她满脸幸福。
• The weather was positively poisonous.这天气着实讨厌。

9 ministry   

n.(政府的)部；牧师

参考例句：

• They sent a deputation to the ministry to complain.他们派了一个代表团到部里投诉。
• We probed the Air Ministry statements.我们调查了空军部的记录。

10 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。

11 implementation   

n.实施，贯彻

参考例句：

• Implementation of the program is now well underway.这一项目的实施现在行情看好。

12 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。

13 differentiated   

区分，区别，辨别( differentiate的过去式和过去分词 )； 区别对待； 表明…间的差别，构成…间差别的特征

参考例句：

• The development of mouse kidney tubules requires two kinds of differentiated cells. 小鼠肾小管的发育需要有两种分化的细胞。
• In this enlargement, barley, alfalfa, and sugar beets can be differentiated. 在这张放大的照片上，大麦，苜蓿和甜菜都能被区分开。

14 capabilities   

n.能力( capability的名词复数 )；可能；容量；[复数]潜在能力

参考例句：

• He was somewhat pompous and had a high opinion of his own capabilities. 他有点自大，自视甚高。 来自辞典例句
• Some programmers use tabs to break complex product capabilities into smaller chunks. 一些程序员认为，标签可以将复杂的功能分为每个窗格一组简单的功能。 来自About Face 3交互设计精髓

15 efficiently   

adv.高效率地，有能力地

参考例句：

• The worker oils the machine to operate it more efficiently.工人给机器上油以使机器运转更有效。
• Local authorities have to learn to allocate resources efficiently.地方政府必须学会有效地分配资源。

16 makers   

n.制造者，制造商（maker的复数形式）

参考例句：

• The makers of the product assured us that there had been no sacrifice of quality. 这一产品的制造商向我们保证说他们没有牺牲质量。
• The makers are about to launch out a new product. 制造商们马上要生产一种新产品。 来自《简明英汉词典》

17 momentum   

n.动力，冲力，势头；动量

参考例句：

• We exploit the energy and momentum conservation laws in this way.我们就是这样利用能量和动量守恒定律的。
• The law of momentum conservation could supplant Newton's third law.动量守恒定律可以取代牛顿第三定律。