英语新闻一起读42

12月12日，为期半个月的巴黎世界气候大会终于落下帷幕并达成协定。要说这个会议的全称可是真长：《联合国气候变化框架公约》(United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change)的第21次缔约方会议(21st Conference of Parties)，COP 21的英文缩写就来源于此。让我们一起看看英语新闻里怎么说。

COP21: Paris climate deal is ‘best chance to save planet’ 第21届联合国气候变化大会：巴黎气候协议是“拯救地球的最佳机会”

deal我们上一次刚刚解释过，指达成的协议或贸易。

The climate deal reached in Paris is "the best chance we have to save the one planet we have", US President Barack Obama has said，it could be a "turning point" towards a low-carbon future.

美国总统奥巴马说，在巴黎达成的气候协议是“我们拯救地球的最好机会”，它将成为开启低碳未来的转折点。

reach作为动词除了伸手拿、到达某地外，还有“达成”的含义，reach an agreement or a decision；

此外需要记住两个词组：转折点turning point，低碳low-carbon

Nearly 200 countries took part in tense negotiations in the French capital over two weeks, striking the first deal to commit all nations to cut emissions.

将近200个国家参与了在法国首都进行的长达两周的紧张谈判，所有国家就减排问题首次达成协定。

strike在这里也是“达成协议、贸易”的意思，strike a deal/bargain，其他含义大家多多复习！

commit的主要意思是“犯罪”，这里指“使某人承担义务、表态”；

环境问题中常用的“减排”就是cut emission，emission特指光或气体的排放。

The measures in the agreement included:To peak greenhouse gas emissions as soon as possible and achieve a balance between sources and sinks of greenhouse gases in the second half of this century

在二十一世纪后半叶，尽可能使温室气体排放量达到峰值，并达到源库平衡。

peak除了“顶点”外也可以做动词使用，即“达到峰值”；

achieve a balance，达到平衡；

source and sink relationship/theory/balance就是我们常说的源库关系或源汇关系，算是专业词汇了。

Observers say the attempt to impose emissions targets on countries was one of the main reasons why the Copenhagen talks in 2009 failed.

有观察者表示，2009年哥本哈根气候大会中谈判失败的主要原因之一就在于试图在各个国家强制实行排放目标。

attempt，名词常指“不成功的企图”，或动词“试图做困难的事”，遇到这个词可以判断语境；

impose … on…,强制实行，或将信仰、观点强加于某人，总之就是承担不愉快的事情。 看完顺便做两个练习：

Fines are imposed on retailers who sell tobacco to minors.

Parents should beware of imposing their own tastes on their children.

It isn't their diplomatic style to commit themselves on such a delicate issue.