Nations Meet to Discuss Global Climate Change

 

By Brian Byrnes

More than 6,000 delegates from 194 nations have gathered in the Argentine capital of Buenos Aires for the 10th annual United Nations Convention on Climate Change. Monday's opening ceremony allowed participants to reflect on recent accomplishments¹ and look to the future.

With hopes of developing new strategies to slow global warming, delegates, lawmakers and NGO representatives kicked off the 10th Conference of Parties convention on Monday in Buenos Aires.

The Climate Change Convention will be the last before the Kyoto Protocol² officially takes effect in February. The environmental community is still glowing from the recent decision by Russia to ratify³ the Kyoto Protocol which made it legally binding⁴. The convention's Executive Secretary, Hoke Waller-Hunter of the Netherlands, addressed the convention Monday and congratulated delegates for their achievements.

"At this COP we celebrate two major milestones⁵ in the climate change process," she said. "The 10th anniversary of the entry into force of our convention and the forthcoming entry into force of the Kyoto Protocol. Both milestones provide us with renewed political momentum⁶ giving us an excellent opportunity to look back with pride and look forward with hope."

The United States and Australia are the only two large developed countries which have not signed onto the accord, which requires participating nations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions⁷ by five percent. The U.S. and Australia account for one-third of the world's gas emissions.

U.S. Senior Climate Negotiator Harlan Watson made it clear in his address during the opening ceremony that the Bush administration's stance was unlikely to change during the course of the two-week conference.

"Many here today are looking forward to the Kyoto Protocol's entry into force, the United States have chosen a different path and I want to make clear that we are taking substantial actions to address climate change," he said. "The United States remains⁸ committed to the framework convention and we are doing much to contribute to its objective."

Without U.S. support of the Kyoto Protocol, much of the conference will likely focus on what environmental standards will be put into place after the Kyoto accord runs out in 2012.

Delegates will also likely examine just how much climate change the planet can handle and what other processes can be implemented⁹ to slow global warming.

Greenpeace is one of the dozens of non-governmental agencies attending the conference. On Monday morning, 2,000 Greenpeace activists¹⁰ unveiled a giant ark in front of Buenos Aires landmark¹¹ Obelisco to draw attention to the world's environmental problems.

Greenpeace International Climate Campaigner Stephanie Tunmore says her agency plays a vital role during these U.N. negotiations¹².

"I think it is for the NGO community to actually shine the spotlight¹³ on," she said. "This is what climate change means. There are millions of people who will lose their lives, that's what it means, it means more storms, more floods, more hurricanes, it means the ice sheets melting, you know keep this in your mind as you start to negotiate, its not all about national interest, this is a global problem, we need a global solution."

A global solution to global warming is still far from fruition, but delegates seem optimistic that their recent accomplishments will help advance the effort even more.

Brian Byrnes , VOA News, Buenos Aires.

注释：
Argentine 阿根廷的
participant 参与者
accomplishment 成就
strategy 策略
Netherlands 荷兰
anniversary 周年纪念
emission 散发
spotlight 聚光灯
fruition 实现

1 accomplishments   

n.造诣；完成( accomplishment的名词复数 )；技能；成绩；成就

参考例句：

• It was one of the President's greatest accomplishments. 那是总统最伟大的成就之一。
• Among her accomplishments were sewing,cooking,playing the piano and dancing. 她的才能包括缝纫、烹调、弹钢琴和跳舞。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

2 protocol   

n.议定书，草约，会谈记录，外交礼节

参考例句：

• We must observe the correct protocol.我们必须遵守应有的礼仪。
• The statesmen signed a protocol.那些政治家签了议定书。

3 ratify   

v.批准，认可，追认

参考例句：

• The heads of two governments met to ratify the peace treaty.两国政府首脑会晤批准和平条约。
• The agreement have to be ratify by the board.该协议必须由董事会批准。

4 binding   

有约束力的，有效的，应遵守的

参考例句：

• The contract was not signed and has no binding force. 合同没有签署因而没有约束力。
• Both sides have agreed that the arbitration will be binding. 双方都赞同仲裁具有约束力。

5 milestones   

n.重要事件( milestone的名词复数 )；重要阶段；转折点；里程碑

参考例句：

• Several important milestones in foreign policy have been passed by this Congress and they can be chalked up as major accomplishments. 这次代表大会通过了对外政策中几起划时代的事件，并且它们可作为主要成就记录下来。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Dale: I really envy your milestones over the last few years, Don. 我真的很羡慕你在过去几年中所建立的丰功伟绩。 来自互联网

6 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。

7 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。

8 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。

9 implemented   

v.实现( implement的过去式和过去分词 )；执行；贯彻；使生效

参考例句：

• This agreement, if not implemented, is a mere scrap of paper. 这个协定如不执行只不过是一纸空文。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• The economy is in danger of collapse unless far-reaching reforms are implemented. 如果不实施影响深远的改革，经济就面临崩溃的危险。 来自辞典例句

10 activists   

n.（政治活动的）积极分子，活动家( activist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• His research work was attacked by animal rights activists . 他的研究受到了动物权益维护者的抨击。
• Party activists with lower middle class pedigrees are numerous. 党的激进分子中有很多出身于中产阶级下层。 来自《简明英汉词典》

11 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。

12 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。

13 spotlight   

n.公众注意的中心，聚光灯，探照灯，视听，注意，醒目

参考例句：

• This week the spotlight is on the world of fashion.本周引人瞩目的是时装界。
• The spotlight followed her round the stage.聚光灯的光圈随着她在舞台上转。