气候变化谈判已过最后期限

Climate Change Talks Move Beyond Deadline 气候变化谈判已过最后期限

Leaders in Paris negotiating a  climate change agreement missed their deadline Friday.

Representatives from 195 countries have spent two weeks in Paris trying to reach agreement at the United Nations climate talks, known as COP21.

French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius extended the deadline until Saturday when the deadline could not be met.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said a lot of progress has been made, but he said, some “very difficult” issues must be resolved.

He met with French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius Friday after what sources said was a hard night of negotiations¹.

The biggest sticking points are financial aid and the long-term goal. First, how much financial aid will the rich nations give the poorer nations to help them cut gas emissions³? Second, what will the final long-term goal say in the agreement?

This conference was working toward capping a rise in global temperatures this century. They wanted to limit the rise to two degrees Celsius⁴ above temperatures of the mid-1700s. That is the time that the industrial revolution began.

But there is discussion of making that a rise in 1.5 degrees instead.

The latest draft of the agreement calls for “the widest possible cooperation by all countries” to cut emission² of greenhouse gases. Scientists say those gases are warming the planet and changing the climate to an extreme.

A major point of disagreement has been who will pay for reducing these emissions. Representatives of 134 developing countries objected to conditions suggested by richer industrialized nations.

Richer countries – like the U.S. and China - have produced most of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions. Those gases are blamed for rising temperatures on the planet. Poorer nations want developed ones to pay for measures that arrest pollution.

Scientists warn that rising temperatures will make Earth more difficult for human life. They say there will be rising sea levels, damaging storms and severe droughts.

Some island nations at the conference said they will disappear underwater when higher global temperatures raise sea levels.

The World Health Organization (WHO) called for a strong agreement to cut global emissions at the conference.  It warns that climate change is already blamed for tens of thousands of deaths each year. These deaths are caused by changing borders of disease, extreme weather events and worsening air and water quality and sanitation⁵.

Nations have met since 1992 to discuss ways to stop global warming.

And while the COP21 labored⁶ to agree over how to deal with climate change, these stories were happening:

Aviation emissions deal

An agreement on limiting carbon dioxide emissions from aviation will likely be reached next year. That is what a senior official from the International Air Transport Association said Thursday. The aviation industry is not covered by the climate talks in Paris because it is under a separate U.N. body, the International Civil Aviation Organization. It is working on ways for airlines to reduce emissions. 

Company to mass produce eco-friendly plane

A company in Slovenia is hoping to revolutionize the airplane industry with electric planes. The electric two-seater airplane Taurus Electro is made by the Slovenian company Pipistrel. It is powered by battery. Its 15-meter wingspan allows it to be carried by the wind, once it reaches the altitude of 2,000 meters. Pipistrel plans to produce the plane and sell it for about $120,000. But for now, only a few countries will allow electric aircraft.

French farmer sues wind farm over stressed cows

In the northern Picardy area of France, a dairy farmer is suing the energy company that owns a wind farm next to his property.  The farmer says the wind turbine creates a low frequency sound that humans cannot hear, but it troubles animals. He says his cows will not lie down to eat and rest near the wind farm, and so they have stopped producing milk. The case goes to court next month.

Cambodia “deadliest” country for environmental reporting

A new report says at least four Cambodians were killed in trying to uncover environmental crimes. This makes Cambodia the “deadliest” place in the world for such reporting. The Paris-based organization Reporters without Borders says that both Cambodia and India were deadly countries for environmental journalists. It says 10 environment reporters have died worldwide since 2010. In Cambodia, journalists killed in rural parts of the country have also been suspected of criminal activity. For example, demanding money from illegal loggers to cut back their reporting on forestry⁷ crimes.

Words in This Story

sticking point – n. something that people disagree about and keeps them from making progress in discussions

drought – n. a time with very little rain

global – adj. involving the whole world.

sanitation  - n. promotion⁸ of hygiene⁹ and preventing disease by removing sewage and trash

aviation –n. the business or practice of flying airplanes and helicopters

carbon off-sets – n.  a credit that an organization can buy to negate¹⁰ a carbon footprint

battery – n. a device placed inside a machine to supply it with electricity

turbine – n. an engine that has a part with blades that spin by pressure from air

frequency – n. the number of times that something, like a sound wave, is repeated in a period of time

1 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。

2 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。

3 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。

4 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。

5 sanitation   

n.公共卫生，环境卫生，卫生设备

参考例句：

• The location is exceptionally poor,viewed from the sanitation point.从卫生角度来看，这个地段非常糟糕。
• Many illnesses are the result,f inadequate sanitation.许多疾病都来源于不健全的卫生设施。

6 labored   

adj.吃力的，谨慎的v.努力争取(for)( labor的过去式和过去分词 )；苦干；详细分析；（指引擎）缓慢而困难地运转

参考例句：

• I was close enough to the elk to hear its labored breathing. 我离那头麋鹿非常近，能听见它吃力的呼吸声。 来自辞典例句
• They have labored to complete the job. 他们努力完成这一工作。 来自辞典例句

7 forestry   

n.森林学；林业

参考例句：

• At present, the Chinese forestry is being at a significant transforming period. 当前, 我国的林业正处于一个重大的转折时期。
• Anhua is one of the key forestry counties in Hunan province. 安化县是湖南省重点林区县之一。

8 promotion   

n.提升，晋级；促销，宣传

参考例句：

• The teacher conferred with the principal about Dick's promotion.教师与校长商谈了迪克的升级问题。
• The clerk was given a promotion and an increase in salary.那个职员升了级，加了薪。

9 hygiene   

n.健康法，卫生学 （a.hygienic）

参考例句：

• Their course of study includes elementary hygiene and medical theory.他们的课程包括基础卫生学和医疗知识。
• He's going to give us a lecture on public hygiene.他要给我们作关于公共卫生方面的报告。

10 negate   

vt.否定，否认；取消，使无效

参考例句：

• Our actions often negate our principles.我们的行为时常与我们所信奉的原则背道而弛。
• Mass advertising could negate the classical theory of supply and demand.大宗广告可以否定古典经济学的供求理论。