VOA标准英语2009年-Africans Welcome US Pledge to Help wit

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said the United States is prepared to work with other countries to fund $100 billion a year by 2020 to address climate change needs of developing countries. African Union Commissioner¹ for Rural Economy and Agriculture Rhoda Tumusiime said Clinton's comments are a positive step.

Selah Hennessy | London 17 December 2009

 
 
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said the United States is prepared to work with other countries to fund $100 billion a year by 2020 to address climate change needs of developing countries. 

African Union Commissioner for Rural Economy and Agriculture Rhoda Tumusiime said Clinton's comments are a positive step.  Tumusiime spoke² to VOA from Copenhagen, where she said she feels talks are making progress.

"I am not 100 percent hopeful, but at least I am really hopeful that something can be worked out that is very positive," she said.

Delegates have been in Copenhagen for 10 days with many observers saying the summit is making slow progress.  The main stumbling blocks for a global climate change deal have been targets for cuts to greenhouse gas emissions³ and financial assistance for poor countries.

African negotiators briefly⁴ walked out of the climate talks Monday, angered by what they consider efforts to sideline poor nations and weaken support for a binding⁵ deal. 

But Wednesday several African countries scaled back the amount of money they say will be necessary to cope with climate change, in an effort to help move the talks to an agreement.

Friday, the final day of talks, U.S. President Barack Obama is expected to arrive and Tumisiime says she thinks this will push talks forward. 

"The major decision makers⁶, the high-power people are coming in tonight and tomorrow.  So mainly tomorrow, that is when the decisions are going to be made," Tumisiime said.

U.S. climate specialist Ilana Solomon of the international aid group Action Aid, says it is up to Mr. Obama to ensure the Copenhagen conference ends with a strong climate deal.

"If Obama were to come to Copenhagen with more ambition than we have already put on the table for mitigation and with a clear number for our contribution to public finance, we think this could make a huge impact," she noted⁷.

U.S. emissions reduction targets and commitments to financing must be supported by the U.S. Congress - an obstacle that political analysts⁸ say may be difficult to overcome.  But Soloman says Mr. Obama must make specific financial pledges.

"I mean we have seen presidents all the time in the past make commitments to finance, be it for food security or HIV/AIDS without Congressional action," she added.  "So I think it is this kind of risk taking and leadership that we really need to see at this moment."

Meanwhile, the EU Commission says it will provide around $75 million to help countries in the Horn of Africa, who are right now suffering from drought caused by climate change.
 

1 commissioner   

n.（政府厅、局、处等部门）专员，长官，委员

参考例句：

• The commissioner has issued a warrant for her arrest.专员发出了对她的逮捕令。
• He was tapped for police commissioner.他被任命为警务处长。

2 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

3 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。

4 briefly   

adv.简单地，简短地

参考例句：

• I want to touch briefly on another aspect of the problem.我想简单地谈一下这个问题的另一方面。
• He was kidnapped and briefly detained by a terrorist group.他被一个恐怖组织绑架并短暂拘禁。

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。

6 makers   

n.制造者，制造商（maker的复数形式）

参考例句：

• The makers of the product assured us that there had been no sacrifice of quality. 这一产品的制造商向我们保证说他们没有牺牲质量。
• The makers are about to launch out a new product. 制造商们马上要生产一种新产品。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

8 analysts   

分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
• I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。