VOA常速英语2008年-India Rejects Binding Committment to Cut Greenh

By Anjana Pasricha
New Delhi
07 February 2008

India is sticking its position that it cannot make any binding¹ commitments on reducing greenhouse gas emissions². Anjana Pasricha reports on an international conference on sustainable development being held in the Indian capital, New Delhi.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh says India will ensure that its per capita emissions of greenhouse gases never exceed those of developed countries.

Since the country's per capita emissions are far below those of richer countries, that essentially³ means that India will not commit to reducing carbon dioxide emissions, which many people see as key to slowing climate change.

Prime Minister Singh was addressing a conference on sustainable development in New Delhi Thursday. He says India still needs to pull vast sections of its population out of poverty.

"I am sure participants at this summit will endorse⁴ India's stand because you are all concerned about poverty eradication⁵ and reducing global disparities in income and wealth. We cannot continue with a global development model where some countries continue to maintain high carbon emissions while the development of options available for developing countries get constrained," said Mr. Singh. "We therefore need to ensure an acceptable standard of living for all our people, but would choose a sustainable path for that development."

Mr. Singh says India will prepare a national plan to tackle issues of climate change by June.

India is the world's fifth largest emitter of greenhouse gases, which many scientists think contributes to global warming. New Delhi has repeatedly rejected demands for specific reduction targets, saying they would hurt its economy. Along with China, India wants Western countries to bear the burden of reducing emissions since they are far larger emitters.

Greenhouse gas emissions come from burning fuels such as oil and coal, and from deforestation. As countries such as India, China and Brazil become industrial powerhouses, their emissions are rising rapidly. By some accounts, China already has the largest emissions, though its per capita figures are well below those to developed nations.

The United States and some other developed countries say that any international agreement to curb⁶ global warming by cutting emissions must include the largest developing nations.

Officials from several countries are attending the Delhi Development Sustainable Summit, organized by the Tata Energy Research Institute.

Norway's Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg called for industrialized nations to transfer technology and funds to help developing countries switch to clean technologies.

He said the rich world must play a leading role in reducing the effects of climate change since its emissions are so large.

The conference also heard a fervent⁷ appeal from one of the world's tiniest countries for quick action on climate change.

The president of Maldives, Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, says his country is already being hurt by changing weather patterns.

"Our fishermen used to predict local weather and ocean current patterns with some accuracy," said Gayoom. "That is no longer the case. The calendar is no longer able to predict weather patterns accurately⁸ in either monsoon⁹. Fishermen therefore go out to sea not knowing when the next severe storm would threaten their boat."

The Maldives, a chain of low-lying islands in the Indian Ocean, could be hit hard if warmer global temperatures melt Arctic ice and raise sea levels.

The International Panel on Climate Change said in its latest report that low-lying islands and coastal¹⁰ regions could be inundated¹¹ by rising sea levels brought about by rising temperatures.

1 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。

2 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。

3 essentially   

adv.本质上，实质上，基本上

参考例句：

• Really great men are essentially modest.真正的伟人大都很谦虚。
• She is an essentially selfish person.她本质上是个自私自利的人。

4 endorse   

vt.(支票、汇票等)背书，背署；批注；同意

参考例句：

• No one is foolish enough to endorse it.没有哪个人会傻得赞成它。
• I fully endorse your opinions on this subject.我完全拥护你对此课题的主张。

5 eradication   

n.根除

参考例句：

• The eradication of an established infestation is not easy. 根除昆虫蔓延是不容易的。
• This is often required for intelligent control and eradication. 这经常需要灵巧的控制与消除。

6 curb   

n.场外证券市场，场外交易；vt.制止，抑制

参考例句：

• I could not curb my anger.我按捺不住我的愤怒。
• You must curb your daughter when you are in church.你在教堂时必须管住你的女儿。

7 fervent   

adj.热的，热烈的，热情的

参考例句：

• It was a debate which aroused fervent ethical arguments.那是一场引发强烈的伦理道德争论的辩论。
• Austria was among the most fervent supporters of adolf hitler.奥地利是阿道夫希特勒最狂热的支持者之一。

8 accurately   

adv.准确地，精确地

参考例句：

• It is hard to hit the ball accurately.准确地击中球很难。
• Now scientists can forecast the weather accurately.现在科学家们能准确地预报天气。

9 monsoon   

n.季雨，季风，大雨

参考例句：

• The monsoon rains started early this year.今年季雨降雨开始得早。
• The main climate type in that region is monsoon.那个地区主要以季风气候为主要气候类型。

10 coastal   

adj.海岸的，沿海的，沿岸的

参考例句：

• The ocean waves are slowly eating away the coastal rocks.大海的波浪慢慢地侵蚀着岸边的岩石。
• This country will fortify the coastal areas.该国将加强沿海地区的防御。

11 inundated   

v.淹没( inundate的过去式和过去分词 )；（洪水般地）涌来；充满；给予或交予（太多事物）使难以应付

参考例句：

• We have been inundated with offers of help. 主动援助多得使我们应接不暇。
• We have been inundated with every bit of information imaginable. 凡是想得到的各种各样的信息潮水般地向我们涌来。 来自《简明英汉词典》