2007年VOA标准英语-EU Pledges to Cut Greenhouse Gases by 2020

By Nina Maria Potts
Brussels
05 April 2007
 
Watch Biofuels report 

The EU is emerging at the forefront of the fight against climate change. Pledging to cut greenhouse gas emissions¹ by 2020 and boost renewable sources, EU politicians seem keener than ever to prove their green credentials².  Nina-Maria Potts reports.

Nine out of ten Europeans think climate change is a serious world problem.  That startling figure comes from a recent opinion poll taken by the University of Maryland's Program on International Policy Attitudes.

 
EU Summit on Alternative Energy
And this widespread concern is at the heart of the European Union's new energy strategy.  At a recent summit, EU governments agreed to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 20 percent by 2020.  They also pledged to feed 20 percent of Europe's energy needs with renewable sources.

Biofuels alone will account for 10 percent of transport energy.  Europe is rich in crops like flax and rapeseed and plenty of other crops and byproducts that can be used to make energy.  Further, Europe plans to develop a biofuels industry in parts of the developing world.

However, some environmental groups argue that setting binding³ targets on biofuel use could do more harm than good.

Pieter de Pous is the biodiversity policy officer for the European Environmental Bureau, which represents environmental groups.  He says producing biofuels can have a high cost on the environment.

 
Pieter de Pous
"It all depends on the amount of energy you use in the production of the crop, the intensity⁴ of the processing process,” he explains. “Total greenhouse gas emissions are not just carbon, but also nitrous oxide⁵ from using mineral fertilizers.  So things need to be factored in."

The EU insists it is committed to developing biofuels in a sustainable way.  The European Commission plans to issue "green certificates" to biofuel producers in developing countries who export to Europe.

EU energy spokesman Ferran Taradellas Espuny says another incentive⁶ is to impose binding targets as a way to attract business to invest in biofuels and other low-carbon technologies.

 
Ferran Taradellas Espuny

"The best incentive is mandatory⁷ targets, because then you know wherever you look at it that the European Union and its member states are going to promote biofuels,” he says.  “This is one [challenge], to attract investment.  Another [challenge] is to do it in a sustainable way, and we are very committed to doing it in a sustainable way."

But de Pous says, at the very least, biofuel production needs to be properly assessed.

"What we need is a system which is based on a solid life-cycle analysis, where we say these kind of biofuels are the most cost effective, have the least environmental damage and therefore they will be eligible⁸ for a certain amount of public support and others do not," de Pous says.

EU officials say they are sensitive to the environmental pros⁹ and cons¹⁰ of biofuels - but those concerns should not, they say, outweigh¹¹ the need to boost Europe's biofuels industry, especially when European public opinion is growing more concerned over global warming, and increasingly pressing governments to act.

1 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。

2 credentials   

n.证明，资格，证明书，证件

参考例句：

• He has long credentials of diplomatic service.他的外交工作资历很深。
• Both candidates for the job have excellent credentials.此项工作的两个求职者都非常符合资格。

3 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。

4 intensity   

n.强烈，剧烈；强度；烈度

参考例句：

• I didn't realize the intensity of people's feelings on this issue.我没有意识到这一问题能引起群情激奋。
• The strike is growing in intensity.罢工日益加剧。

5 oxide   

n.氧化物

参考例句：

• Oxide is usually seen in our daily life.在我们的日常生活中氧化物很常见。
• How can you get rid of this oxide coating?你们该怎样除去这些氧化皮？

6 incentive   

n.刺激；动力；鼓励；诱因；动机

参考例句：

• Money is still a major incentive in most occupations.在许多职业中，钱仍是主要的鼓励因素。
• He hasn't much incentive to work hard.他没有努力工作的动机。

7 mandatory   

adj.命令的；强制的；义务的；n.受托者

参考例句：

• It's mandatory to pay taxes.缴税是义务性的。
• There is no mandatory paid annual leave in the U.S.美国没有强制带薪年假。

8 eligible   

adj.有条件被选中的；(尤指婚姻等)合适(意)的

参考例句：

• He is an eligible young man.他是一个合格的年轻人。
• Helen married an eligible bachelor.海伦嫁给了一个中意的单身汉。

9 pros   

abbr.prosecuting 起诉；prosecutor 起诉人；professionals 自由职业者；proscenium （舞台）前部n.赞成的意见( pro的名词复数 )；赞成的理由；抵偿物；交换物

参考例句：

• The pros and cons cancel out. 正反两种意见抵消。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• We should hear all the pros and cons of the matter before we make a decision. 我们在对这事做出决定之前，应该先听取正反两方面的意见。 来自《简明英汉词典》

10 cons   

n.欺骗，骗局( con的名词复数 )v.诈骗，哄骗( con的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• The pros and cons cancel out. 正反两种意见抵消。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• We should hear all the pros and cons of the matter before we make a decision. 我们在对这事做出决定之前，应该先听取正反两方面的意见。 来自《简明英汉词典》

11 outweigh   

vt.比...更重，...更重要

参考例句：

• The merits of your plan outweigh the defects.你制定的计划其优点胜过缺点。
• One's merits outweigh one's short-comings.功大于过。