VOA常速英语:A Year of Climate Catastrophes and Controversies

In November California’s deadliest wildfire on record killed 88 people, a gloomy example of consequences on a warming planet.
今年十一月，美国加利福尼亚州发生了史上最致命的火灾，造成88人死亡。这是一个由于气候变暖而引发的惨痛案例。
The State’s fires are getting worse, says former wild firefighting chief Kim Pimlott.
前森林防火部门主要负责人Kim Pimlott说，国内发生的火灾情况越来越严峻。
Things are changing.
事情正在发生改变。
The folks can say what they want to say.
民众们可以随心所欲畅所欲言。
But when firefighters are living climate change, there is stirring in them in the face every day.
但是消防员的生命与气候变化息息相关，他们每天都得面临着混乱的局面。
In September hurricane Florence’s record-breaking rains caused massive flooding in North Carolina.
今年九月，弗洛伦萨飓风带来了史无前例的暴雨，致使卡罗莱纳州遭遇特大洪灾。
Firing one of the extreme, watering the other, but the difference is between where the world is headed and where it needs to be.
一边是极端火灾、一边是特大洪灾。区别就在于全球的走向以及国际社会所需之所在哪。
UN scientists issued a sobering report ahead of December’s climate talks in Poland.
在举行12月份的气候会谈之前，联合国科学家们在波兰发表了一份发人深省的报告。
Hoesung Lee chaired the panel.
Hoesung Lee（政府间气候变化专门委员会主席）主持了该会议。
It shows that the window to limit warming to 1.5 degree is narrow.
现已表明，限制大气温度上升1.5度的门槛条件有限。
That it would require and that global emissions of carbon dioxide to fall by about 45 percent by 2030.
这便要求，到2030年，全球二氧化碳排放量降低45%。
Every year matters.
每一年都至关重要。
But this year the emission rose by an estimated 2.7 percent, the biggest jump since 2011.
据估计，今年排放量上升了2.7%。这是自2011年以来，增幅最大的一次。
US government scientists published an equally stark report in November on the impacts of climate change on the nation.
十一月，美国政府的科学家们也发表了一份同样严峻的报告。该报告指出气候变化对美国的种种影响。
President Donald Trump rejected.
唐纳德·特朗普总统持反对态度。
Trump told VOA that cutting emissions would be too expensive.
特朗普告诉美国之音，减少排放将耗资巨大。
I’m not going to put the country out of business , trying to maintain certain standards that probably don’t matter.
我不会让国家置身事外，也不会维持某些几乎无足轻重的标准。
When you look at China and when you look at other countries with a heavier you know foul air ,they have not good air.
你看看中国及世界上其他国家，他们的空气更加污浊，他们没有洁净的空气。
We’re gonna be clean but they’re not and it costs a lot of money.
我们将有洁净的空气，他们却没有。而这要耗费巨资。
But Trump’s efforts to loosen regulations on producing and burning fossil fuels have met with mixed results so far, says the Natural Resources Defense Councils Jake Schmidt.
时至今日，特朗普试图放松对化石燃料生产和燃烧的监管，但此举带来诸多后果。自然资源保护委员会成员Jake Schmidt说，
The good news is that a number of those are being held up in court.
好消息是许多监管政策遭到法院的阻拦。
The progress is a bit slower in terms of unwinding them.
在通过监管政策方面，进展较为缓慢。
But clearly everything that’s been on the climate action agenda for the last couple years, the Trump administration is trying to induce.
但显然，过去几年，气候行动议程包含了各个方面，特朗普当局试图加以引导。
Trump’s Republican Party lost control of the House of Representatives in the midterm elections.
在今年的美国中期选举中，特朗普所在的共和党失去了对众议院的控制权。
That will mean more push back from Democrats on climate and much more in 2019.
将意味着民主党人会更加阻挠气候政策，且此态势于2019年还会加剧。
Meanwhile, Trump’s hostility toward climate science did not stop UN negotiators from reaching a deal in December on a rule book for carrying out the Paris climate Agreement.
同时，特朗普对气候科学的敌对态度未能阻止联合国与十二月份协商达成一项规则协议，即依旧实施《巴黎气候协定》。
Critics say it does not go nearly far enough .
批评家称，这走得还不够远。
But getting everyone on board was not easy, says meeting chair Michal kurtyka.
COP24主席Michal kurtyka说，但想让每个人参与其中并非易事.
In these circumstances, every single step forward is a big achievement.
如此情形之下，朝前迈出的每一步都是一项了不起的成就。
And through this package you have made a thousand little steps forward together.
一路走来，你们共同迈进了千万步。
But step forward carefully experts warn.
但专家警告说，要谨慎前行。
Raising fuel taxes to fight climate change helped bring yellow vest protesters to the streets in France.
提高燃料税以应对气候变化的举措催生了法国街道上的黄背心抗议者。
Who will pay the cost of climate action as the bill for past inaction comes due.
当以往的不作为如期而至，谁将为气候行动买单呢？
It’s a question for 2019 and beyond.
这是留给2019年和未来的问题。
Steve Baragona VOA news
美国之音，Steve Baragona报道。