VOA常速英语2017--北极理事会召开部长级会议 商策如何应对全球变暖

The Arctic region is warming faster than any other region on earth, more than twice the rate of the global average according to recent reports. This means, among other things, that areas of the Arctic Ocean that were formerly 1 inaccessible 2 to humans are opening up for increased human traffic.

北极圈变暖的速度属全球第一，最近的报道显示，其变暖速度是全球平均速度的两倍。这意味着，此前北冰洋地区人类可进入的区域正在逐渐扩大。

But the warming of the Arctic raises the risks for fragile land and marine 3 ecosystems 4, which must be managed through a balanced approach, lest they become damaged beyond recovery.

但北极圈的变暖给脆弱的土地和海洋生态系统带来了风险，因为这两者需要平衡过来维系，否则就会遭到不可修复性的破坏。

This is where the Arctic Council comes in. A high-level forum 5 of the eight nations with territory in the region and representatives of indigenous 6 peoples who live in the region, the biennial 7 Arctic Council Ministerial Meeting gives Arctic nations and peoples a forum in which to address these concerns, balancing the protection of the Arctic's fragile environment with responsible, sustainable development.

这就是北极理事会成立的目的。北极理事会部长级会议是一次高层论坛，集聚北极地区的8个国家和当地民众代表，它两年一度的召开给了北极圈地区国家和人民一个解决上述关切的机会，在保护北极脆弱生态环境与实现负责任的可持续发展之间找到了平衡点。

On May 10th and 11th, in Fairbanks, Alaska, the Council held its 10th Ministerial Meeting, which marked the conclusion of the two-year U.S. chairmanship of this body. Under U.S. leadership, the Council completed an assessment 8 of the telecommunications infrastructure 9 in the Arctic; launched a new Arctic Ship Traffic Database to keep track of vessels 10 passing through the Arctic; and implemented 11 two agreements signed by Council members during the last meeting, one on improving search-and-rescue in the Arctic region, and the second on preparing and responding to potential oil pollution incidents in the Arctic.

5月10日-11日，阿拉斯加的费尔班克斯举行了第十届北极理事会部长级会议，这次会议上宣布结束美国2年来对北极理事会的领导。在美国的领导下，该理事会完成了对北极圈电信基础设施的评估工作；设立了新的北极圈航行数据库，以追踪北极圈内航行舰艇的情况；实施了两份在这次会议中北极理事会成员国签订的协议，一份是提升北极圈搜救能力的，一份是应对并为可能的油污染事件做准备的。

Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and the other foreign ministers also signed two documents at the Fairbanks Ministerial: a binding 12 agreement that will promote scientific cooperation throughout the Arctic, and the Fairbanks Declaration, a non-binding statement that affirms the signatories' commitment to maintain peace, stability, and constructive 13 cooperation in the Arctic; promotes the economic development of indigenous peoples there; and recognizes that climate change is a serious threat to the Arctic, and calls for timely action to address this threat.

美国国务卿蒂勒森以及其他一些外长还在费尔班克斯的部长级会议上签订了2份文件：一份具有约束力，将会促进北极圈地区的科学合作；另一份名为《费尔班克斯宣言》，不具有约束力，这份宣言确认了签约国要致力于维护北极圈地区的和平、稳定和建设性合作，促进了北极圈地区的经济发展，承认气候变化是对北极圈的严重威胁，并呼吁及时采取行动，解决这一威胁。

The United States had been privileged to lead the Arctic Council at a time when the Arctic region has been facing unprecedented 14 change and challenges, said Secretary Tillerson, who hosted the meeting as Chair of the Arctic Council.

美国有此殊荣，在北极圈地区面临前所未有的变故和挑战之际领导北极理事会，蒂勒森在以北极理事会主席身份主持会议期间如是说道。

The Arctic Council...has proven to be an indispensable forum in which we can pursue cooperation. I want to affirm that the United States will continue to be an active member in this Council. The opportunity to chair the Council has only strengthened our commitment to continuing its work in the future.

北极理事会已经成为我们追求合作不可或缺的论坛。我想申明，美国将继续积极参与北极理事会的事务。主持北极理事会的机会让我们坚定了未来继续推进这项工作的决心。