South Korea's Constitutional Court has begun hearing a case that accuses the government of failing to protect 200 people by not dealing with climate change.
韩国宪法法院已开始审理一起指控政府未应对气候变化,未能保护 200 人的案件。
The case, which began Tuesday in Seoul, includes many young environmental activists and children.
这起案件于周二在首尔开庭审理,其中包括许多年轻的环保活动人士和儿童。
The people bringing the legal action, or the plaintiffs, said the case was Asia's first climate-related case.
提起法律诉讼的人或原告表示,这是亚洲第一起与气候有关的案件。
It includes four petitions by children and babies among others dating from 2020.
它包括儿童和婴儿的四份请愿书,以及从2020年开始的其他请愿书。
There is also a petition from a fetus at the time the case was brought to court, nicknamed "Woodpecker."
在案件提交法庭时,还有一名胎儿的请愿书,绰号为“啄木鸟”。
Environmental activists Choi Jia and Kim Hannah chant slogans during a press conference before the initial hearing for petitions.
环保活动人士崔佳和金汉娜在首次请愿听证会前的新闻发布会上高呼口号。
Lee is the president of the court, which is one of the highest in South Korea.
李明博是韩国最高法院之一的院长。
"The court recognizes the importance and public interest of this case and will make efforts to ensure that deliberations are conducted thoroughly," he said.
他说:“法院认识到此案的重要性和公众利益,并将努力确保彻底进行审议。”
Earlier this month, Europe's human rights court ruled on another climate-related case.
本月早些时候,欧洲人权法院对另一起与气候有关的案件做出了裁决。
The court found the Swiss government had violated its citizens' rights by not doing enough to combat climate change.
法院发现,瑞士政府在应对气候变化方面做得不够,侵犯了公民的权利。
Courts in Australia, Brazil and Peru are also hearing similar cases.
澳大利亚、巴西和秘鲁的法院也在审理类似的案件。
The plaintiffs said in a statement that South Korea's climate plans are not enough to keep the world's average temperature increase within 1.5 degrees Celsius of "pre-industrial" levels.
原告在一份声明中表示,韩国的气候计划不足以将世界平均气温上升控制在“工业化前”水平的1.5摄氏度以内。
The government's failure violates "fundamental rights," the statement said.
该声明谈到,政府的失败侵犯了“基本权利”。
Climate scientists say if the average world temperature rises more than 1.5 degrees Celsius, there will be results that cannot be changed.
气候科学家表示,如果全球平均气温上升超过1.5摄氏度,就会出现无法改变的结果。
These scientists say large ice sheets will melt and ocean currents will stop.
这些科学家说,大冰盖将融化,洋流将停止。
Burning of fossil fuels, such as oil, gas and coal, results in carbon emissions.
燃烧石油、天然气和煤炭等化石燃料会导致碳排放。
These warm gases are being blamed for the warming of the land and sea.
这些温暖的气体是造成陆地和海洋变暖的罪魁祸首。
South Korea's economy depends on fossil fuels for growth.
韩国经济增长依赖化石燃料。
However, South Korea has sought to reach carbon neutrality by 2050.
然而,韩国已寻求在2050年前实现碳中和。
Government lawyers told the court that the government was doing everything possible to reduce carbon emissions and not violate the basic rights of its people.
政府律师告诉法庭,政府正在尽一切可能减少碳排放,而不是侵犯人民的基本权利。
They added that the government did not discriminate against young people, and there could be changes to yearly goals on carbon reduction.
他们补充说,政府没有歧视年轻人,年度碳减排目标可能会有所变化。
Several activists said the government's answer was disappointing.
几名活动人士表示,政府的回答令人失望。
A group of young people, including Woodpecker, who is now one year old, gathered outside the court.
一群年轻人聚集在球场外,其中包括现在一岁的啄木鸟。
Some criticized what they called the government's inaction on climate change.
一些人批评他们所说的政府在气候变化问题上的不作为。
"Carbon emission reduction keeps getting pushed back as if it is homework that can be done later," said the baby's mother, Lee Donghyun.
婴儿的母亲李东贤说:“碳减排一直被推迟,就好像这是可以稍后完成的家庭作业一样。”
"But that burden will be what our children have to bear eventually."
但这一负担最终将是我们的孩子不得不承担的。
The mother of one eight-year-old plaintiff said her children live in fear of the effects of climate change.
一名8岁原告的母亲说,她的孩子生活在对气候变化影响的恐惧中。
"Because there's a mountain behind our house, the kids say our house can get hit by a landslide.
她说:“因为我们的房子后面有一座山,孩子们说我们的房子可能会被山体滑坡击中。
And who knows?That can happen," she said.
谁知道呢?这是有可能发生的。”
Last year, South Korea lowered its 2030 targets for greenhouse gas reductions.
去年,韩国降低了2030年的温室气体减排目标。
But it kept its national goal of cutting emissions by 40 percent of 2018 levels, calling the move a reasonable change.
但坚持将排放量在2018年水平上削减40%的国家目标,称此举是一个合理的变化。
I'm Dan Novak.
我是丹 · 诺瓦克。