【Rio+20 Brings Attention to Sustainable Development】
TEXT:This is the VOA Special English Economics Report.
这里是美国之音慢速英语经济报道 。
Leaders from more than one hundred nations are in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil for a three-day United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development. More than forty thousand activists and political and business leaders are also there.
来自100多个国家的领导人齐聚里约热内卢,参加为期三天的联合国可持续发展会议 。4万多名活动人士、政商界领导人也出席了会议 。
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon spoke at the opening of the event, known as the Rio + 20.
联合国秘书长潘基文在里约+20会议开幕式上作了讲话 。
BAN KI-MOON: “We are now in sight of a historic agreement.”
潘基文:“我们此刻见证了历史性的协议 。”
Rio + 20 marks the twentieth anniversary of the first UN Earth conference, also held in Rio de Janeiro. The conference helped build support for the nineteen ninety-seven Kyoto agreement to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
里约+20会议是联合国首届地球峰会20年周年,那次会议也是在里约热内卢举行的,会议提供的支持促成了1997京都议定书以减少温室气体排放 。
This year, officials are trying to reach final agreement on a document that details goals for reducing poverty while supporting clean energy and sustainable development.
今年,官员们努力达成一份文件的最终协议,制定减少贫困的具体目标,同时支持清洁能源和可持续发展
The conference will draw attention to seven major issues. The UN says jobs, energy and sustainable cities are of top importance. It notes that food security, water, oceans and dealing with disasters are other issues basic to lifting people out of poverty.
这次会议把目光投向了7件大事,联合国称,就业、能源和可持续性城市是重中之重,强调食品安全、水、海洋和对付灾难问题是其他帮助人们脱贫的基本问题 。
The Mayor of New York City, Michael Bloomberg, took part in a discussion among mayors of some of the world’s largest cities. They talked about measures to cut greenhouse gasses. These gasses are known to trap heat and have been linked to climate change. Cities are responsible for up to seventy-five percent of the gases. Mr. Bloomberg said the world’s mayors are taking the lead on issues like the environment and sustainability.
纽约市市长迈克尔.布隆伯格和世界其他最大城市的市长们进行了一场会谈,他们谈论减少温室气体的措施 。我们知道这些气体能聚积热量,与气温变化有关,其中多达75%的温室气体是城市排放的 。布隆伯格说,市长们在诸如环境和可持续性等问题上发挥了主动作用 。
MICHAEL BLOOMBERG: "Even as progress at national and international level has faltered, it's fair to say that world cities have forged ahead. And, the reason for that is clear - mayors, the great pragmatists on the world stage who are directly responsible for the well-being for the majority of the world's people, just don't have the luxury to simply talk about change and not delivering it.''
布隆伯格:“甚至国家和国际层面的进展都遇到了问题,可以这么说,全球城市都在推进,原因很明确,市长们和世界舞台上最优秀的实业家们都要对世界大多数人的福祉负责,不要只是空谈变革而不行动 。”
Mayors reported using electric vehicles, better street lighting and improved waste management to reduce cities’ greenhouse emissions.
市长们提出使用电动汽车、更好的街灯和改良废物管理的途径来减少城市温室气体排放 。
Bindu Lohani is a top official with the Asian Development Bank based in the Philippines. The bank has promised billions to sustainable development. Mr. Lohani said Asia’s fast growth places heavy pressure on the environment and society.
Bindu Lohani是总部在菲律宾的亚洲开发银行的高级官员,该行承诺提供数十亿资金进行可持续发展 。Lohani说,亚洲高速发展的地区对环境和社会造成了沉重压力 。
BINDU LOHANI: "Asia is growing fast economically. We project by 2050, more than 50 percent of global economy will be in Asia. Asia is also rich in ecosystems, and therefore, very vulnerable."
BINDU LOHANI:“亚洲的经济发展很快,我们计划截止2050年,亚洲实现全球50%的经济增长,亚洲的生态系统也很丰富,因此也很脆弱 。”
Still, some environmental activists say the conference document is too weak. They say there are many promises of action but few clear targets for reducing pollution and the use of natural resources.
然而,一些环保人士称这次会议的文件很薄弱,称会议的承诺太多,但缺乏减少污染和使用自然资源方面的明确目标 。