VOA慢速英语2012 Economics Report - Rio + 20 Brings Attention to Sustainable Development

Economics Report - Rio + 20 Brings Attention to Sustainable Development

经济报道 - 里约+20峰会关注可持续发展

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 1 and political and business leaders are also there.

来自一百多个国家的领导人在巴西里约热内卢参加为期三天的联合国可持续发展会议。参加此次会议的还有4万多名活动人士和政商界领袖。

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon spoke 2 at the opening of the event, known as the Rio + 20.

联合国秘书长潘基文在里约+20峰会开幕式上发表了讲话。

BAN KI-MOON: “We are now in sight of a historic agreement.”

潘基文：“我们现在看到的是一份历史性的协议。”

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 3.

里约+20峰会还标志着同样在里约热内卢举行的首届联合国地球会议20周年。那次会议为1997年京都议定书减少温室气体排放量提供了支持。

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，有关官员试图就一份文件达成最终协议，该文件将详细阐明在减少贫困的同时支持清洁能源和可持续发展的目标。

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 4 with disasters are other issues basic to lifting people out of poverty.

本次会议将提请人们注意7个重要议题。联合国表示，就业、能源和城市可持续发展是重中之重。而粮食安全、水、海洋和灾害处理是帮助人们摆脱贫困的其它基本议题。

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.

纽约市长迈克尔·布隆伯格（Michael Bloomberg）参加了一些世界最大城市市长之间的讨论。他们谈到了减少温室气体排放的具体措施。据了解，温室气体会捕捉热量，它和气候变化是分不开的。城市要对高达75%的温室气体负责。布隆伯格先生表示，全球各位市长在环境和可持续发展等问题上占据了主导地位。

MICHAEL BLOOMBERG: "Even as progress at national and international level has faltered 5, 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 6 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：“即便是国家或国际层面的进展停滞不前，公平地说，世界各大城市已经取得长足发展。原因是非常明确的，市长作为世界舞台上伟大的实用主义者，对全球大多数人口的福祉直接负责，他们没法光说不练。”

Mayors reported using electric vehicles, better street lighting 7 and improved waste management to reduce cities’ greenhouse emissions.

市长们报告说，可以通过使用电动汽车、改善路灯照明以及提升废物管理来减少城市温室气体排放量。

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.

宾度·罗哈尼（Bindu Lohani）是总部设在菲律宾的亚洲开发银行的高级官员。该银行已经承诺数十亿美元用于可持续发展。罗哈尼先生说，亚洲的快速增长给环境及社会带来了沉重压力。

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 8, and therefore, very vulnerable."

罗哈尼：“亚洲在经济方面快速增长。我们预计到2050年，50%以上的全球经济将在亚洲。亚洲还拥有丰富的生态系统，因此也非常脆弱。

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.

尽管如此，一些环保人士表示，会议（最终成果）文件过于弱势。他们说，成果文件中有很多行动承诺，但几乎没有减少污染和自然资源利用的明确目标。

And that's the VOA Special English Economics Report. For transcripts 9, MP3s and now PDFs of our programs for e-readers, go to www.voanews.cn. And follow us on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and iTunes at VOA Learning English. I'm June Simms.