VOA标准英语2009年-Japanese Environment Minister Urges Gr

Sakihito Ozawa urges other developed nations to join Japan's efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions² by 80 percent by 2050

Akiko Fujita | Tokyo 08 December 2009

Japan's Environment Minister Sakihito Ozawa speaks during a press conference at Foreign Correspondents' Club of Japan in Tokyo, 02 Dec 2009

Japan's minister of the environment is urging other developed nations to join the country's efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 80 percent by 2050. His appeal comes as more than 190 countries gather in Denmark for the United Nations climate summit.  

Since taking office three months ago, Japan's new government has set ambitious goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.  In September, Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama vowed³ to reduce emissions by 25 percent in the next decade, compared with levels from 1990, a goal that would only be carried out if major greenhouse gas emitters like China set similar goals.

In an address to foreign journalists, Japan's environment minister called on the rest of the world to aim for similar goals.

Sakihito Ozawa says more and more countries are announcing emission¹-reduction targets.

The United Nations summit is attempting to get world leaders to reach a political agreement that addresses specific programs and funding mechanisms⁴ to help countries reach their emission targets.

Sakihito says he is optimistic that goal will be reached, but that he does not expect countries to sign a legally binding⁵ agreement.

Mr. Hatoyama's government has not laid out specifics on its plans to reduce the country's emissions in the next decade.  Last month, Sakihito proposed a "green tax" on fossil fuels as one option.  The administration's ambitious goals have raised concerns among businesses and homeowners, who worry about the cost to comply with the government's new environmentally friendly standards.

Ozawa asserts the 25 percent cut will not be achieved through burdens placed on businesses and citizens.  He predicts the Japanese can maintain a comfortable and safe lifestyle, while reaching the greenhouse gas target.

 

1 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。

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 vowed   

起誓，发誓（vow的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• He vowed quite solemnly that he would carry out his promise. 他非常庄严地发誓要实现他的诺言。
• I vowed to do more of the cooking myself. 我发誓自己要多动手做饭。

4 mechanisms   

n.机械( mechanism的名词复数 )；机械装置；[生物学] 机制；机械作用

参考例句：

• The research will provide direct insight into molecular mechanisms. 这项研究将使人能够直接地了解分子的机理。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• He explained how the two mechanisms worked. 他解释这两台机械装置是如何工作的。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 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。