中美领导人宣布应对气候变化的承诺

Leaders of the United States and China announced new commitments to tackle climate change

刘立军 供稿

TRANSCRIPT

Hello, this is Danielle Jalowiecka with the BBC News.

The leaders of the United States and China, Joe Biden and Xi Jinping, have announced new commitments to tackle climate change at the UN General Assembly. Mr. Xi said China, which up to now has been a major backer of coal-fired plants, would not fund any new coal power stations abroad and would increase support for green energy in developing countries. China will strive to peak carbon dioxide emissions before 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality before 2060. This requires tremendous hard work, and we will make every effort to meet these goals. Joe Biden said he would double the amount of climate-related aid to developing nations, pledging more than $11 billion annually by 2024.

President Biden and the British Prime Minister Boris Johnson have spoken of the need to use all the diplomatic and humanitarian tools at their disposal to prevent a further deterioration of conditions in Afghanistan. A spokesperson for Mr. Johnson said they'd agreed that any international recognition of the Taliban must be contingent on the group respecting human rights.

The UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi, has said he is shocked by images showing Haitian refugees gathered in an underpass in Texas after crossing the US border. Olan Detale has more details. In a statement, Mr. Grandi called the conditions facing Haitian refugees deplorable. He said more than 14,000 people were now sheltering at the concrete underpass in Del Rio, Texas after making the crossing from Mexico. Photos show people living in the open and under makeshift tents with blankets strewn over pieces of wood. Mr. Grandi also repeated demands for Washington to stop the mass expulsion of refugees under legislation bought in last year by Donald Trump. It was introduced as an emergency measure during the coronavirus pandemic. But the UNHCR says it is inconsistent with international norms.

Aid agencies have accused the international community of failing to live up to promises to provide humanitarian assistance to Yemen ahead of talks on the subject at the UN General Assembly. Paul Adams reports. The war in Yemen has just entered its 8th year with no end in sight. Seventy percent of Yemenis depend on international assistance. The International Crisis Group says not enough is being raised or getting through. Fifteen million Yemenis, half the population, don't have access to clean water. But funding for water and sanitation is running at less than 10% of what's needed. In the health sector, coronavirus has made an already dire situation even worse. According to Oxfam, 99% of the population remains unvaccinated and the death rate has risen more than fivefold in the past month.

World news from the BBC.

VOCABULARY

1. tackle v. to make a determined effort to deal with a difficult problem or situation 应付，处理，解决（难题或局面）。例如：The government is determined to tackle inflation. 政府决心解决通货膨胀问题。

2. neutrality n. the state of not supporting either side in a disagreement, competition or war 中立；中立状态

3. pledge v. to formally promise to give or do sth. 保证给予（或做）；正式承诺。例如：The government pledged their support for the plan. 政府保证支持这项计划。

4. deterioration n. 恶化

5. contingent adj. (formal) depending on sth. that may or may not happen 依情况而定的

6. underpass n. a road or path that goes under another road or railway/railroad track 下层通道，地下通道（在另一条道路或铁路之下）

7. makeshift adj. used temporarily for a particular purpose because the real thing is not available 临时替代的；权宜的。例如：A few cushions formed a makeshift bed. 临时用几个垫子拼了一张床。

8. access to sth.: the opportunity or right to use sth. or to see sb./sth. （使用或见到的）机会，权利。例如：Students must have access to good resources. 学生必须有机会使用好的资源。

9. dire adj. 极其严重的；危急的。例如：Such action may have dire consequences. 这种行为可能产生严重后果。

10. fivefold n. 五倍

QUESTIONS

Read the statements. Then listen to the news and decide whether the statements are true (T) or false (F).

1. China would not fund any new coal power stations abroad and would increase support for green energy in developing countries.

2. China will strive to peak carbon dioxide emissions before 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality before 2050.

3. Joe Biden said he would double the amount of climate-related aid to developing nations, pledging more than $11 billion quarterly by 2024.

4. Mr. Johnson said they'd agreed that any international recognition of the Taliban must be contingent on the group respecting human rights.

5. Mr. Grandi said more than 14,000 people were now sheltering at the concrete underpass in Del Rio, Texas after making the crossing from Mexico.

6. Aid agencies have accused the international community of failing to live up to promises to provide humanitarian assistance to Yemen ahead of talks on the subject at the UN General Assembly.

7. 80% of Yemenis depend on international assistance.

8. Fifteen million Yemenis, half the population, don't have access to the Internet.

9. According to Oxfam, 99% of the population in Yemen remains unvaccinated and the death rate has risen more than threefold in the past month.

KEY

Read the statements. Then listen to the news and decide whether the statements are true (T) or false (F).

(T) 1. China would not fund any new coal power stations abroad and would increase support for green energy in developing countries.

(F) 2. China will strive to peak carbon dioxide emissions before 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality before 2050.（正确表达）China will strive to peak carbon dioxide emissions before 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality before 2060.

(F) 3. Joe Biden said he would double the amount of climate-related aid to developing nations, pledging more than $11 billion quarterly by 2024. （正确表达）Joe Biden said he would double the amount of climate-related aid to developing nations, pledging more than $11 billion annually by 2024.

(F) 4. Mr. Johnson said they'd agreed that any international recognition of the Taliban must be contingent on the group respecting human rights. （正确表达）A spokesperson for Mr. Johnson said they'd agreed that any international recognition of the Taliban must be contingent on the group respecting human rights.

(T) 5. Mr. Grandi said more than 14,000 people were now sheltering at the concrete underpass in Del Rio, Texas after making the crossing from Mexico.

(T) 6. Aid agencies have accused the international community of failing to live up to promises to provide humanitarian assistance to Yemen ahead of talks on the subject at the UN General Assembly.

(F) 7. 80% of Yemenis depend on international assistance. （正确表达）70% of Yemenis depend on international assistance.

(F) 8. Fifteen million Yemenis, half the population, don't have access to the Internet. （正确表达）Fifteen million Yemenis, half the population, don't have access to clean water.

(F) 9. According to Oxfam, 99% of the population in Yemen remains unvaccinated and the death rate has risen more than threefold in the past month. （正确表达） According to Oxfam, 99% of the population in Yemen remains unvaccinated and the death rate has risen more than fivefold in the past month.

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