G8 agrees on "substantial" cuts in emissions

时间：2007-06-08 05:56:26

（单词翻译:单击）

June 8 - Leaders from the Group of Eight (G8) leading industrialized powers in Heiligendamm, Germany on Thursday sealed a compromise on climate change which German Chancellor1 Angela Merkel described as a "real turning point."

 

Merkel told reporters that the leaders have agreed to "substantially" cut greenhouse gases in the fight against climate change, which is a "great success."

 

According to the chancellor, the G8 leaders have agreed to "seriously consider" the decisions made by the European Union, Canada and Japan of cutting carbon emissions2 by 50 percent below the 1990 levels by 2050.

 

They also agreed to tackle climate change within the framework of the United Nations, said Merkel.

 

"What can be most possibly achieved has been achieved," said Merkel.

 

The agreement sent a "strong signal" for the UN climate conference to be held in December in Bali, Indonesia, designed to kick off the international negotiations3 for a post-Kyoto agreement, she said.

 

According to a draft of the G8 summit declaration issued Thursday, the leaders agreed that further actions on climate change should be based on the UN principle of "common but differentiated4 responsibilities and respective capabilities," with G8 nations taking the lead.　

 

"We acknowledge the continuing leadership role that developed economies have to play in any future climate change efforts to reduce global emissions," it said.

 

Meanwhile, the G8 nations would "invite" the emerging economies, including China and India, to "address the increase in their emissions by reducing the carbon intensity5 of their economic development," said the declaration.

 

Still, environmental organization Green peace said it was disappointed by the G8 agreement.

 

"This is too little," said Green peace, noting that the G8 leaders have finally failed to agree on binding6 targets.

 

Germany, which holds the rotating G8 presidency7, has called for actions to limit the rise in global temperatures to two degrees Celsius8 this century, which experts say requires a global reduction in emissions of 50 percent below 1990 levels by 2050.

 

However, the United States, the world's biggest greenhouse gas producer, had voiced "fundamental opposition9" to mandatory10 targets, making climate change one of the most controversial issues during the upcoming G8 summit.

 

Shortly before the summit, U.S. President George W. Bush announced a separate plan, calling on 15 of the world's biggest greenhouse emitters to meet and agree on long-term goals by the end of 2008.

 

The United States, which has not signed the Kyoto Treaty, said environmental protection cannot come at the price of hurting economic growth.

 

On another contentious11 issue concerning the U.S. plan of a missile defense12 system in Central Europe, Russian President Vladimir Putin made a surprise offer to his U.S. counterpart George W. Bush.

 

Putin told Bush that Moscow would not oppose a U.S. plan of a radar13-based missile defense system in Europe if it was deployed14 in Azerbaijan instead of Central Europe.　

 

Speaking to reporters following their eye-catching meeting, Bush described Putin's proposal as "interesting."　

 

"We have a desire to work together," Bush said, adding that he and Putin would discuss the proposal at their summit on July 1-2 at the Bush family compound in Kennebunkport, Maine.

 

According to U.S. National Security Adviser15 Steve Hadley, defense experts from the two sides will discuss the possibility of Putin's initiative.

 

Putin said he was satisfied with talks with Bush and explained that an Azerbaijan-based U.S. missile defense shield would alleviate16 Russia's concerns about it, which would cover all of Europe rather part of it.　

 

Reports said that the two leaders also agreed to a strategic dialogue involving military and diplomacy17.

 

The meeting between the two on the sidelines of the Group of Eight (G8) summit was aimed to reduce high tension between the two sides over the U.S. plan of deploying18 the missile defense shield in the Czech Republic and Poland.　

 

Washington plans to place a radar system in the Czech Republic and interceptor missiles in neighboring Poland in the name of defending possible attacks from Iran.

 

Russia has accused Washington of raising a new arms race in the region, which Washington denies.

 

On Thursday, Putin also hold face-to-face talks with Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, French President Nicolas Sarkozy and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

 

The three-day G8 summit opened Wednesday evening, and concludes on Friday.

 

In a summit declaration released on the official website of the G8 event, G8 leaders called for more efforts to adjust global imbalances when the world economy is in good, although they appeared upbeat about the world economy.

 

"We note that the world economy is in good condition," the G8 leaders said in the declaration.

 

"Growth is now more balanced across regions, as it has moderated to a more sustainable pace in the United States, while domestic demand has strengthened in Europe and remains19 supported by robust20 investment in Japan," they said.

 

They also pledged to intensify21 anti-corruption22 efforts, both at the national and international levels, terming the fight against corruption "one of the most important tasks of the G8."

 

In the meantime, they called for joint23 global efforts to secure freedom of investment.

 
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点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 chancellor aUAyA     
n.(英)大臣；法官；(德、奥)总理；大学校长
参考例句：
  • They submitted their reports to the Chancellor yesterday.他们昨天向财政大臣递交了报告。
  • He was regarded as the most successful Chancellor of modern times.他被认为是现代最成功的财政大臣。
2 emissions 1a87f8769eb755734e056efecb5e2da9     
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 negotiations af4b5f3e98e178dd3c4bac64b625ecd0     
协商( negotiation的名词复数 )； 谈判； 完成（难事）； 通过
参考例句：
  • negotiations for a durable peace 为持久和平而进行的谈判
  • Negotiations have failed to establish any middle ground. 谈判未能达成任何妥协。
4 differentiated 83b7560ad714d20d3b302f7ddc7af15a     
区分，区别，辨别( differentiate的过去式和过去分词 )； 区别对待； 表明…间的差别，构成…间差别的特征
参考例句：
  • The development of mouse kidney tubules requires two kinds of differentiated cells. 小鼠肾小管的发育需要有两种分化的细胞。
  • In this enlargement, barley, alfalfa, and sugar beets can be differentiated. 在这张放大的照片上，大麦，苜蓿和甜菜都能被区分开。
5 intensity 45Ixd     
n.强烈，剧烈；强度；烈度
参考例句：
  • I didn't realize the intensity of people's feelings on this issue.我没有意识到这一问题能引起群情激奋。
  • The strike is growing in intensity.罢工日益加剧。
6 binding 2yEzWb     
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。
7 presidency J1HzD     
n.总统(校长，总经理)的职位(任期)
参考例句：
  • Roosevelt was elected four times to the presidency of the United States.罗斯福连续当选四届美国总统。
  • Two candidates are emerging as contestants for the presidency.两位候选人最终成为总统职位竞争者。
8 Celsius AXRzl     
adj.摄氏温度计的，摄氏的
参考例句：
  • The temperature tonight will fall to seven degrees Celsius.今晚气温将下降到七摄氏度。
  • The maximum temperature in July may be 36 degrees Celsius.七月份最高温度可能达到36摄氏度。
9 opposition eIUxU     
n.反对，敌对
参考例句：
  • The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
  • The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。
10 mandatory BjTyz     
adj.命令的；强制的；义务的；n.受托者
参考例句：
  • It's mandatory to pay taxes.缴税是义务性的。
  • There is no mandatory paid annual leave in the U.S.美国没有强制带薪年假。
11 contentious fa9yk     
adj.好辩的，善争吵的
参考例句：
  • She was really not of the contentious fighting sort.她委实不是好吵好闹的人。
  • Since then they have tended to steer clear of contentious issues.从那时起，他们总想方设法避开有争议的问题。
12 defense AxbxB     
n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩
参考例句：
  • The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
  • The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。
13 radar kTUxx     
n.雷达，无线电探测器
参考例句：
  • They are following the flight of an aircraft by radar.他们正在用雷达追踪一架飞机的飞行。
  • Enemy ships were detected on the radar.敌舰的影像已显现在雷达上。
14 deployed 4ceaf19fb3d0a70e329fcd3777bb05ea     
（尤指军事行动）使展开( deploy的过去式和过去分词 )； 施展； 部署； 有效地利用
参考例句：
  • Tanks have been deployed all along the front line. 沿整个前线已部署了坦克。
  • The artillery was deployed to bear on the fort. 火炮是对着那个碉堡部署的。
15 adviser HznziU     
n.劝告者，顾问
参考例句：
  • They employed me as an adviser.他们聘请我当顾问。
  • Our department has engaged a foreign teacher as phonetic adviser.我们系已经聘请了一位外籍老师作为语音顾问。
16 alleviate ZxEzJ     
v.减轻，缓和，缓解(痛苦等)
参考例句：
  • The doctor gave her an injection to alleviate the pain.医生给她注射以减轻疼痛。
  • Nothing could alleviate his distress.什么都不能减轻他的痛苦。
17 diplomacy gu9xk     
n.外交；外交手腕，交际手腕
参考例句：
  • The talks have now gone into a stage of quiet diplomacy.会谈现在已经进入了“温和外交”阶段。
  • This was done through the skill in diplomacy. 这是通过外交手腕才做到的。
18 deploying 79c9e662a7f3c3d49ecc43f559de9424     
（尤指军事行动）使展开( deploy的现在分词 )； 施展； 部署； 有效地利用
参考例句：
  • Provides support for developing and deploying distributed, component-based applications. 为开发和部署基于组件的分布式应用程序提供支持。
  • Advertisement, publishing, repair, and install-on-demand are all available when deploying your application. 在部署应用程序时提供公布、发布、修复和即需即装功能。
19 remains 1kMzTy     
n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹
参考例句：
  • He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
  • The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。
20 robust FXvx7     
adj.强壮的，强健的，粗野的，需要体力的，浓的
参考例句：
  • She is too tall and robust.她个子太高，身体太壮。
  • China wants to keep growth robust to reduce poverty and avoid job losses,AP commented.美联社评论道，中国希望保持经济强势增长，以减少贫困和失业状况。
21 intensify S5Pxe     
vt.加强；变强；加剧
参考例句：
  • We must intensify our educational work among our own troops.我们必须加强自己部队的教育工作。
  • They were ordered to intensify their patrols to protect our air space.他们奉命加强巡逻，保卫我国的领空。
22 corruption TzCxn     
n.腐败，堕落，贪污
参考例句：
  • The people asked the government to hit out against corruption and theft.人民要求政府严惩贪污盗窃。
  • The old man reviled against corruption.那老人痛斥了贪污舞弊。
23 joint m3lx4     
adj.联合的，共同的；n.关节，接合处；v.连接，贴合
参考例句：
  • I had a bad fall,which put my shoulder out of joint.我重重地摔了一跤，肩膀脫臼了。
  • We wrote a letter in joint names.我们联名写了封信。

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