2007年VOA标准英语-Australia Plans Satellite System to Protect Wor

By Phil Mercer
Sydney
23 July 2007

Australian officials are calling for global support for a satellite monitoring system to combat illegal logging and the destruction of forests in Asia and the Pacific.  From Sydney, Phil Mercer reports.

FAO says most countries in Europe and North America have reversed centuries of deforestation

The Australian government hopes an international meeting this week in Sydney will generate support for its plan to reduce deforestation and cut greenhouse gas emissions¹.

Canberra has pledged $175 million for a World Bank-backed fund to reduce forest destruction and illegal logging in the Asia-Pacific region.

Australian officials say that almost 4.5 million trees are destroyed around the world every day.

The government argues that if deforestation is halved², trees could absorb three billion more tons of greenhouse gas emissions each year, or 10 percent of total emissions. Many scientists say the emissions, generally created by burning fuels such as oil and coal, contribute to global warming and climate change.

Canberra proposes a global network using satellite technology to monitor logging.

Speaking ahead of the start of the conference on Monday, Australian Environment Minister Malcolm Turnbull said it would test international support for his deforestation initiative.

"We are going to need technology, we're going to need money, we're going to need goodwill³ and a lot of cooperation," Turnbull said. "Some of the largest deforesters in the world will be there, in the sense that countries like Indonesia and Brazil, the countries of big tropical forests, where most of the deforestation is occurring, are going to be present."

The meeting in Sydney brings together officials from the China, Brazil, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands and the United States.

Environmentalists have criticized the Australian deforestation plan.
 
They say it relies on only voluntary measures to reduce deforestation without binding⁴ targets. It also is outside the United Nations' negotiations⁵ on slowing down the destruction of forests and natural vegetation.

Climate change is emerging as a pressing issue in this year's Australian election.

The environment will also be a key part of the agenda at September's Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Sydney.  Australia says the APEC meeting will focus on addressing climate change with the world's economic heavyweights - the U.S., Japan, China and India.

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 halved   

v.把…分成两半( halve的过去式和过去分词 )；把…减半；对分；平摊

参考例句：

• The shares have halved in value . 股价已经跌了一半。
• Overall operating profits halved to $24 million. 总的营业利润减少了一半，降至2，400 万元。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 goodwill   

n.善意，亲善，信誉，声誉

参考例句：

• His heart is full of goodwill to all men.他心里对所有人都充满着爱心。
• We paid ￡10,000 for the shop,and ￡2000 for its goodwill.我们用一万英镑买下了这家商店，两千英镑买下了它的信誉。

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 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。