這一章超級無聊，也沒有什么知識，就是一篇美國政治話題的八股文。如果考試不考的話，千萬別看。

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美國的環(huán)境有一段有趣的歷史。 The environment of the United States has an interesting history. 在歐洲移民到來之前，這片土地被茂密的森林覆蓋，雄偉的雪山?jīng)]有受到干擾，湖泊和河流原始，空氣干凈純凈。 ?Before settlers arrived from Europe, the land was heavily forested, the majestic, snow-capped mountains remained undisturbed, the lakes and rivers pristine, and the air clean and pure. 雖然生活在這片土地上的部落文化存在差異，但土著人民認(rèn)為自己是自然的一部分，而不是與自然分離。 ?While there were differences in the cultures of the tribes that lived on this land, the indigenous peoples saw themselves as a part of nature, not apart from nature. 他們尊重環(huán)境，與環(huán)境和諧相處。 ?They respected and lived in harmony with their environment. 私有財產(chǎn)是一個不為人知的概念。 ?Private property was an unknown concept. 他們從大自然中獲取的動物、植物和水作為食物和飲料是地球母親的禮物。 ?The animals, plants and water they took from nature for food and drink were gifts from Mother Earth. 像他們的祖先一樣，他們通常只拿自己需要的東西，為了子孫后代，他們是地球的好管家。 ?Like their ancestors, they generally took only what they needed and were good stewards of the earth for the sake of future generations.歐洲移民帶來了不同的自然概念。 ?The European settlers arrived with a different concept of nature. 他們堅持財富積累和私有財產(chǎn)的資本主義目標(biāo)，并認(rèn)為自然是為了人類所用而應(yīng)被征服的?！??They adhered to the capitalist goals of wealth accumulation and private property and the idea that nature was there to be conquered for human use.' 因此，當(dāng)他們從東海岸分散到整個大陸時，他們砍伐森林，清理土地，開墾大片土地，建立家園和城鎮(zhèn)。 ?Thus, as they fanned out from the east coast across the continent, they cut down forests and cleared the land, cultivating large swaths of territory and establishing homesteads and towns. 隨著工業(yè)革命的到來，人們開始在地下挖掘黃金、礦產(chǎn)、煤炭、石油和其他任何可以在地下找到的財富。 ?With the coming of the Industrial Revolution, they dug into the ground for gold, minerals, coal, oil and whatever other riches were to be found in the earth. 他們的搜索不斷加強，他們發(fā)現(xiàn)了新的挖掘地點，他們越挖越深，總是在尋找新的寶藏。 ?Their search constantly intensifying, they found new places to dig, and they dug deeper and deeper, always on the hunt for new treasures. 大自然的財富，以前被看作是需要精心培育的禮物，現(xiàn)在被當(dāng)作商品來對待，可以用來買賣，增加個人的財富和聲望。 ?Nature's riches, which had previously been looked upon as gifts to be carefully nurtured, came to be treated as commodities to be bought and sold for money and to enhance individual wealth and prestige.隨著時間的推移，越來越多的人對環(huán)境所遭受的破壞變得敏感起來。 ?As time passed, more people became sensitive to the abuses suffered by the environment. 然而，直到20世紀(jì)60年代，環(huán)境問題才變得普遍。 ?However, it was not until the 1960s that environmental concerns became widespread. 著名生物學(xué)家雷切爾·卡森??Noted biologist Rachel Carson?助力培養(yǎng)了這種新的意識，并被稱為現(xiàn)代環(huán)保運動之母。 ?helped to foster this new awareness and came to be known as the mother of the modern environmental movement. 其中，她反對人類試圖用化學(xué)物質(zhì)控制自然。 ?Among other things, she objected to humans trying to control nature with chemicals. 第二次世界大戰(zhàn)后不久，化學(xué)殺蟲劑被廣泛用于農(nóng)作物。 ?Soon after World War II, chemical pesticides were widely used on crops. 在她著名的著作《寂靜的春天》中，她宣稱:“如果我們要和這些化學(xué)物質(zhì)如此親密地生活在一起——吃它們、喝它們，把它們帶入我們的骨髓——我們最好對它們的性質(zhì)和力量有所了解?！??In her famous book, Silent Spring, she declared, "If we are going to live so intimately with these chemicals —eating and drinking them, taking them into the very marrow of our bones— we had better know something about their nature and their power." 她的書，以及她在國會的證詞，導(dǎo)致了某些農(nóng)藥的禁用。 ?Her book, as well as testimony she gave before Congress, led to the banning of certain pesticides.

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此后，一些環(huán)保主義者宣稱《寂靜的春天》是一本“地球生命未來的手冊”。

In later?years, some environmentalists declared that Silent Spring was a "handbook for the future of life on Earth."?此后，無數(shù)人追隨蕾切爾·卡森(Rachel Carson)等環(huán)保先驅(qū)的腳步，有時成功地控制了某些環(huán)境問題。 ?Countless others have since followed in the footsteps of environmental pioneers like Rachel Carson, at times successfully bringing environmental problems under control. 然而，在過去的幾十年里，作為一個物種，我們發(fā)現(xiàn)自己面臨著人類歷史上最大規(guī)模的環(huán)境危機。 ?However, for the past few decades, we as a species find ourselves confronting the most massive environmental crisis in the history of humankind. 你知道這是什么嗎? ?Do you know what it is? ?

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A Puzzle?

以下是近年來美國一些最重要的環(huán)境現(xiàn)象。Here are some of the most important environmental phenomena in the United States in recent years. 他們彼此之間都有共同之處。 ?They all have something in common with each other. 這是什么? ?What is it? 看看你能不能解開這個謎題。 ?See if you can solve this puzzle.

2013年6月，美國西南部出現(xiàn)了一股酷熱的熱浪，氣溫高達(dá)54攝氏度，接近地球上有記錄以來的最高溫度。 ?In June of 2013, a blistering heat wave in the southwestern part of the country saw temperatures as high as 54°C, close to the hottest ever recorded anywhere on the planet. 數(shù)百人住院治療，至少30人死亡。 ?Hundreds of people were hospitalized and at least 30 died.隨著高溫加劇，干旱狀況也隨之出現(xiàn)，持續(xù)了數(shù)年，在加州尤為嚴(yán)重。 ?As the heat intensified, drought conditions developed, lasting several years, and becoming particularly severe in California. 農(nóng)業(yè)受到嚴(yán)重影響，這是一個嚴(yán)重的問題，因為加州是全國水果和蔬菜的主要供應(yīng)地。 ?Agriculture was heavily impacted, a serious problem since California is a major supplier of fruits and vegetables for the entire country. 由于食品短缺，一些價格急劇上漲。 ?With food shortages, some prices increased dramatically.在森林茂密的地區(qū)，極端的高溫和干旱會導(dǎo)致森林火災(zāi)。 ?In heavily forested areas, extreme heat and drought can lead to forest fires. 因此，盡管有成千上萬的消防員在工作，但在2015年秋天，肆虐的大火燒毀了加州28萬英畝的土地。 ?Thus, in spite of thousands of firefighters on the job, raging fires burned over 280 000 acres in California during the fall of 2015. 森林被毀，數(shù)千人被迫撤離，數(shù)百座房屋被夷為平地。 ?Forests were destroyed, thousands of people were forced to evacuate, and hundreds of homes were flattened.西部各州經(jīng)常遭受缺水之苦，但在該國其他地區(qū)，情況可能大不相同。 ?The Western states often suffer from not enough water, but matters can be very different in other parts of the country. 2012年，颶風(fēng)桑迪襲擊了整個東海岸和幾個內(nèi)陸州，共有24個州受到影響。 ?In 2012, a total of 24 states were affected when Hurricane Sandy struck the entire eastern seaboard and several inland states. 紐約和新澤西受到猛烈風(fēng)暴潮的打擊尤其嚴(yán)重。 ?New York and New Jersey were especially hard hit by fierce storm surges. 這場災(zāi)難最終造成約159人死亡，在美國歷史上僅次于七年前的卡特里娜颶風(fēng)，造成的死亡人數(shù)是卡特里娜颶風(fēng)的10倍多。 ?This disaster ended with an estimated 159 lives lost and was outstripped in American history only by Hurricane Katrina seven years earlier that resulted in more than 10 times the death toll.洪水，雖然并不局限于颶風(fēng)，但也經(jīng)常伴隨著颶風(fēng)，就像桑迪和卡特里娜颶風(fēng)一樣。 ?Floods, though not restricted to hurricanes, often accompany them as they did with Sandy and Katrina. 由于卡特里娜颶風(fēng)帶來的洪水，新奧爾良80%的地區(qū)被淹沒。 ?Eighty percent of New Orleans was under water as a result of the flooding from Hurricane Katrina. 損失810億美元， ?At $81 billion, it was the most expensive

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這是美國歷史上損失最慘重的環(huán)境災(zāi)難 environmental disaster in American history. 據(jù)說1500萬人受到了影響，這座著名的城市永遠(yuǎn)地改變了。 ?It is said that 15 million people were affected and that this famous city has been forever changed.?近年來，其他類型的風(fēng)暴正變得越來越嚴(yán)重。 ?Other kinds of storms are becoming more severe in recent years. 例如，中西部的大部分地區(qū)都是龍卷風(fēng)的多發(fā)地，2007年，人口約1400人的堪薩斯州格林斯堡鎮(zhèn)被一場近2英里寬的龍卷風(fēng)直接襲擊。 ?For example, much of the Midwest is tornado territory, and in 2007 the town of Greensburg, Kansas, with a population of about 1 400, was directly hit by a tornado nearly 2 miles wide. 95%的建筑變成了廢墟，這個小鎮(zhèn)幾乎被夷為平地。 ?With 95% of the buildings reduced to rubble, this small town was virtually wiped out.根據(jù)美國肺臟協(xié)會2016年的一份報告，不健康的空氣污染水平困擾著1.66億美國人，約占美國人口的一半，可能導(dǎo)致哮喘、心臟病、肺癌和其他疾病等呼吸系統(tǒng)疾病。 ?According to a 2016 report by the American Lung Association, unhealthy levels of air pollution plague 166 million Americans, about half the population of the US respiratory diseases such as asthma can result, as can heart disease, lung cancer and other illnesses.?面積相當(dāng)于德克薩斯州、加利福尼亞州和蒙大拿州的面積總和的巨大的阿拉斯加州，以其美麗的冰川而聞名，但它們正在迅速消失。 ?The huge state of Alaska, which is the size of Texas, California and Montana combined, is known for its beautiful glaciers, but they are rapidly disappearing. 2015年進行的一項科學(xué)研究顯示，每年大約有750億噸冰川融化。 ?A scientific study conducted in 2015 revealed that approximately 75 billion tons of glacial ice melt occur every year. 冰川融化會引發(fā)洪水，造成飲用水短缺，影響依賴冰川生存的動物，引發(fā)地震、火山爆發(fā)，甚至海嘯。 ?This melting can cause flooding, create shortages of potable water, affect animals that depend on glaciers for their survival, and trigger earthquakes, volcanoes, and even tsunamis.?冰川融化最具破壞性的后果之一是海平面上升。 ?One of the most devastating results of melting glaciers is sea level rise. 這對沿海地區(qū)構(gòu)成了重大威脅——洪水、海岸線侵蝕和后退、海水污染供水、對生態(tài)系統(tǒng)的危害以及對建筑物、道路和橋梁的破壞。 ?This presents major threats to coastal areas-flooding, erosion and receding shorelines, contamination of water supplies by salt water, harm to ecosystems, and damage to buildings, roads and bridges. 洛杉磯、舊金山、紐約和佛羅里達(dá)的大部分沿海地區(qū)，以及世界各地的沿海地區(qū)和城市，都開始感受到海平面上升帶來的海水侵蝕。 ?Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York, and much of the coast of Florida, as well as coastal regions and cities all over the world, are beginning to feel the encroachment of water from sea level rise. 隨著時間的推移，這些地區(qū)可能會被水淹沒。 ?Over time, these areas could become inundated with water.美國有數(shù)百種瀕危物種。 ?There are hundreds of endangered species in the United States. 在某些情況下，他們的正常環(huán)境不再適合居住，他們被迫尋找新的地方居住。 ?In somed cases, their normal environment is no longer habitable, and they are being forced to find new places to live. 這種物種遷移會導(dǎo)致新的問題。 ?This species migration can lead to new problems. 例如，如果它們的新棲息地沒有捕食者，它們可能會繁殖過多，導(dǎo)致新棲息地的生態(tài)失衡，或者如果捕食者太多，這可能會導(dǎo)致它們滅絕。 ?For example, if there are no predators in their new location, they might overpopulate, causing other imbalances in their new habitat, or if there are too many, this could lead to their extinction. 許多種類的植物也瀕臨滅絕。 ?Many species of plants are also endangered.如果你還沒有解決這個謎題，這里有一個提示可以幫助你。 ?If you have not already solved the puzzle, here's a hint to help you. 1993年至2001年擔(dān)任美國副總統(tǒng)的阿爾·戈爾(Al Gore)向全世界數(shù)百萬人宣傳了這些問題和其他環(huán)境問題。（呵呵，都什么年頭了還吹捧戈爾，他奢侈浪費不環(huán)保的各種事跡可以查查）??Al Gore, whc served as Vice President of the United States from 1993 to 2001, educated millions of people around the world about these and other environmental problems. 通過他 ?Through his

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2006年的電影和書，都叫《難以忽視的真相》，他清楚地表明了它們的共同點。 2006 film and book, both titled An Inconvenient Truth, he made it clear what they have in common.一年后，他獲得了諾貝爾和平獎的電影和書籍，以及他對這個主題的其他工作。 ?A year later, he received the Nobel Peace Prize for the film and book as well as his other work on this topic. 在他的獲獎感言中，他說:“我們?nèi)祟愇锓N正面臨著一個全球性的緊急情況——一個對我們文明生存的威脅，即使在我們聚集在這里的時候，這種威脅正在積聚不祥和破壞性的潛力。 ?In his acceptance speech he said, "We, the human species, are confronting a planetary emergency—a threat to the survival of our civilization that is gathering ominous and destructive potential even as we gather here. 但也有一個充滿希望的消息:如果我們采取行動，我們有能力解決這場危機，并避免最壞的——盡管不是全部——后果…… ?But there is hopeful news as well: we have the ability to solve this crisis and avoid the worst — though not all — of its consequences, if we act ... 很快。” ?quickly." 他強調(diào)，“結(jié)果將受到兩個國家的決定性影響…… ?He emphasized that "the outcome will be decisively influenced by two nations... 這就需要采取最大膽的行動，否則就要為他們的失敗承擔(dān)歷史責(zé)任?！??that will need to make the boldest moves, or stand accountable before history for their failure to act." 這兩個國家是美國和XX。 ?These two nations are the United States and China.你解開這個謎了嗎? ?Did you solve the puzzle yet? 什么樣可怕的力量能產(chǎn)生這樣的暴力和破壞——在成千上萬的人中造成疾病和死亡，在田地里肆虐莊稼，摧毀成片成片的健康森林，摧毀建筑物，消滅動物物種? ?What kind of dreadful force could possibly generate such violence and devastation-causing illness and death among thousands of people, wreaking havoc on crops in fields, wiping out acres and acres of healthy forests, destroying buildings, and eliminating whole species of animals??

科學(xué)提供答案

這些環(huán)境災(zāi)難都或多或少地與全球變暖和氣候變化有關(guān)。 ?

Science Provides the Answer

These environmental disasters all relate in one way or another to global warming and climate change. 當(dāng)然，一個完整的科學(xué)解釋有些復(fù)雜，但簡單地說，全球變暖是指地球平均溫度的升高。 ?Of course a full scientific explanation is somewhat complex, but simply put, global warming refers to the warming of the earth's average temperature. 氣候變化包括這一點，也包括全球和局部氣候的其他變化，如熱浪和更頻繁、更猛烈的風(fēng)暴。 ?Climate change includes this and also other changes in climate globally and locally, such as heat waves and more frequent and fiercer storms. “氣候變化”這個詞更常用。 ?The term "climate change" is more commonly used.正如我們所知，太陽使地球變暖。 ?As we know, the sun warms the earth. 當(dāng)這些太陽輻射進入地球大氣層時，其中一些被某些氣體捕獲，從而使地球變暖。 ?As this solar radiation enters the earth's atmosphere, some of it is trapped by certain gases, thus warming the earth. 二氧化碳是這些氣體中最常見的。 ?Carbon dioxide (CO2) is the most common of these gases. 一些輻射被反射回太空。 ?Some of the radiation bounces back into space. 我們大氣中適當(dāng)?shù)臒彷椛淦胶馐沟厍蜻m合多種形式的生命生存。 ?The right balance of radiation in our atmosphere is what makes the earth habitable for its many forms of life. 然而，如果大氣中有更多的二氧化碳和其他這類氣體，地球就會變暖得更多，氣候就會變得不穩(wěn)定。 ?If there is more CO2 and other such gases in the atmosphere, however, the earth warms more and the climate becomes unstable. 這些氣體被稱為溫室氣體(GHG)，因為當(dāng)它們在大氣中增加時，它們就像溫室一樣吸收并保持熱量，使地球進一步變暖，從而導(dǎo)致全球變暖。 ?These gases are referred to as greenhouse gases (GHG) because, as they increase in the atmosphere, they act like a greenhouse that takes in the heat and holds it, warming the earth even more, thus global warming. 變暖的空氣也影響了 ?The warming air also affects the amount of

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降水和水分蒸發(fā)，導(dǎo)致天氣更加極端，從而導(dǎo)致氣候變化。 precipitation and water evaporation, resulting in more extreme weather, thus climate change.然而，我們不能草率地斷定每一場風(fēng)暴都是由氣候變化直接引起的。 ?However, we must not leap to the conclusion that every storm is directly caused by climate change. 不過，我們能說的是，總的來說，極端天氣事件比過去更頻繁、更嚴(yán)重、持續(xù)時間更長。 ?What we can say, though, is that in general, extreme weather events are more frequent, more severe, and last longer than in the past. 我們也不能總是把自然界的其他變化歸因于氣候變化。 ?Nor can we always attribute other changes in nature to climate change. 例如，雖然大部分物種遷移是氣候變化的結(jié)果，但某些物種可能因為城市擴張和侵占其棲息地而被迫遷移?！盀槭裁矗蹦憧赡軙?，“大氣中突然有這么多二氧化碳?” ?For example, although much of species migration is the result of climate change, a certain species might be forced to migrate because a city is expanding and encroaching on its habitat"Why," you may ask, "is there suddenly so much carbon dioxide in the atmosphere?" 這是一個很好的問題，最好的答案是看看地球近代史的獨特之處。 ?That's a good question, best answered by looking at what is unique about the earth's recent history. 工業(yè)時代始于18世紀(jì)末，嚴(yán)重依賴化石燃料，隨之而來的是二氧化碳排放的大幅增加。 ?The industrial era, which began in the late 18th century and relies heavily on fossil fuels, brought with it the beginning of a great increase in CO2. 化石燃料是來自地球上腐爛的動植物的能源，它們需要數(shù)百萬年的時間才能形成。 ?Fossil fuels are sources of energy that come from decayed plants and animals in the earth, and it takes millions of years for them to form. 最常見的化石燃料——煤、石油和天然氣——都是以碳為基礎(chǔ)的。 ?The most common fossil fuels coal, oil and natural gas- are carbon based. 燃燒時，它們將二氧化碳釋放到大氣中。 ?When burned, they release CO2 into the atmosphere. 隨著時間的推移，越來越多的化石燃料被用于工業(yè)、家庭和交通運輸。 ?Over time, more and more fossil fuels were used to fuel industries, homes and transportation. 工廠、發(fā)電廠、汽車和飛機是最常見的排放源，現(xiàn)在每年排放大約350億噸二氧化碳。 ?Factories, power plants, cars and airplanes are among the most common examples of the sources now spewing out approximately 35 billion excess tons of CO2 every year.然而，值得注意的是，二氧化碳對地球上的生命是必不可少的。 ?It is important to note, however, that CO2 is essential to life on the planet. 例如，當(dāng)人類呼吸時，我們釋放出二氧化碳，二氧化碳被樹木和其他植物吸收，樹木和其他植物釋放出我們吸入的氧氣。 ?For example, when humans breathe, we give out CO, which is taken in by trees and other plants, which give out oxygen that we breathe in. 除了地下的化石，二氧化碳還儲存在植物、海洋和土壤中，被稱為碳匯。 ?In addition to the fossils underground, CO2 is stored in plants, the oceans and the soil, referred to as carbon sinks. 這些碳匯吸收了大量多余的二氧化碳，但它們能吸收的量是有限的。 ?These carbon sinks take in a great deal of the excess CO2, but there is a limit to the amount they can absorb. 例如，最終進入海洋的過量二氧化碳對魚類和其他海洋動物、珊瑚礁以及以珊瑚礁為棲息地的數(shù)百種物種都有不利影響。 ?For example, the excess CO2 that ends up in our oceans has detrimental effects on fish and other marine animals, as well as coral reefs and the hundreds of species that use the coral reefs as a habitat.因此，很明顯，大部分氣候變化是人為的，是人類活動的結(jié)果。 ?It is therefore clear that much of climate change is anthropogenic, the result of human activity. 事實上，英語中最近出現(xiàn)了一個新詞——人類世。 ?In fact, a new term has recently entered the English language — Anthropocene. 根據(jù)《牛津英語詞典》，這個詞指的是“當(dāng)前的地質(zhì)時代，被視為人類活動對氣候和環(huán)境產(chǎn)生主要影響的時期?！??According to the Oxford English Dictionary, this term refers to "the current geological age, viewed as the period during which human activity has been the dominant influence on climate and the environment."大多數(shù)美國人都意識到氣候變化的破壞性影響 ?Most Americans are aware of the devastating effects of climate change and

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大部分歸因于人類活動。 attribute much of it to human activity. 然而，盡管這是世界上97%的氣候科學(xué)家得出的結(jié)論，仍有許多美國人認(rèn)為這不是人類造成的，有些人甚至認(rèn)為氣候變化是不真實的。 ?Yet, even though this is the conclusion reached by 97% of the world's climate scientists, there are still many Americans who think it is not caused by humans, and some who even think that climate change is not real.不幸的是，特朗普總統(tǒng)加入了這群不科學(xué)的氣候變化否認(rèn)者的行列，導(dǎo)致更多的美國人懷疑氣候變化的真實性。 ?Unfortunately, President Trump added his voice to this group of unscientific climate change deniers, causing more Americans to doubt the reality of climate change. 在2016年總統(tǒng)競選期間，他宣稱氣候變化是XX制造的“騙局”。 ?During the 2016 Presidential campaign, he proclaimed that climate change is a "hoax" perpetrated by China.' 顯然，這種說法阻礙了解決問題的進程。 ?Obviously, such statements stand in the way of progress toward resolving the problem.有了對氣候變化的理解，讓我們回到這個難題上來。 ?Armed with your understanding of climate change, let's return to the puzzle. 你現(xiàn)在能弄清楚每一塊拼圖是如何與氣候變化聯(lián)系起來的嗎? ?Can you now figure out how each piece of the puzzle relates to climate change?但是正在做什么呢? ?But What Is Being Done?既然我們了解了這些可怕的環(huán)境問題的共同點以及它們存在的原因，我們就可以把注意力轉(zhuǎn)向正在采取的措施。 ?Now that we understand what these terrible environmental problems have in common and why they exist, we can turn our attention to what is being done about them. 應(yīng)對氣候變化有兩種主要方法。 ?There are two major approaches for dealing with climate change. 一種旨在防止或減少溫室氣體的排放，稱為減排。 ?One aims to prevent or lessen the emission of GHGs and is called mitigation. 另一個目標(biāo)是適應(yīng)，旨在減少氣候變化帶來的風(fēng)險。 ?The aim of the other, adaptation, is to reduce the risks resulting from climate change.各級政府在減排和適應(yīng)氣候變化方面正在取得重要進展。 ?By GovernmentsGovernments at different levels are making important gains to mitigate and adapt to climate change. 以下一些主要是減排的例子，一些主要是適應(yīng)的例子。 ?Some of the following are examples primarily of mitigation and some are examples primarily of adaptation.為了減少干旱對加州的影響，州政府頒布了一長串緊急節(jié)水規(guī)定，并對違反規(guī)定的人處以罰款。 ?To diminish the effects of the drought in California, the state government imposed a long list of emergency water conservation rules, and fines were set for people who broke the rules. 大量的地下水被用于農(nóng)業(yè)和彌補河流中的水損失。 ?Large reserves of groundwater were used for agriculture and to replace water losses in rivers.一些最令人印象深刻的工作正在地方一級完成。 ?Some of the most impressive work is being done at local levels. 還記得摧毀堪薩斯州格林斯堡的龍卷風(fēng)嗎? ?Remember the tornado that demolished Greensburg, Kansas? 在市長的領(lǐng)導(dǎo)下，格林斯堡的市民重建了他們的城鎮(zhèn)。 ?Under the leadership of the mayor, the citizens of Greensburg rebuilt their town. 但他們決定利用可再生能源，使他們的城鎮(zhèn)更具可持續(xù)性，而不是像過去那樣依賴化石燃料。 ?But rather than relying on fossil fuels as in the past, they decided to take advantage of renewable energy and make their town more sustainable. 他們建造了朝南的新建筑，以最大限度地利用自然 ?They built new buildings facing south to make maximum use of natural

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日光和安裝太陽能電池板和天窗，以受益于太陽的熱量。 daylight and installed solar panels and skylights to benefit from the heat of the sun. 他們建造了風(fēng)力發(fā)電場，提供該鎮(zhèn)所需的全部電力。 ?They constructed a wind farm that provided all the electricity needed by the town. 結(jié)束后，市長發(fā)表了一句著名的宣言:“龍卷風(fēng)摧毀了這個小鎮(zhèn)，現(xiàn)在我們正在用風(fēng)來為小鎮(zhèn)提供電力?！??Whend finished, the mayor famously declared, "The very wind that destroyed this town in the tornado is now the wind we're using to power the town." 他們的努力被稱為“綠色格林斯堡”。 ?Their efforts are referred to asd "the greening of Greensburg."2014年，美國環(huán)境保護署發(fā)布了對抗空氣污染的標(biāo)準(zhǔn)，從而改善了公眾健康。 ?In 2014, the US Environmental Protection Agency issued standards to combat air pollution and therefore improve public health. 這些標(biāo)準(zhǔn)包括為汽車和卡車使用更清潔的燃料，以及改進新車的技術(shù)，以減少污染排放。 ?The standards included using cleaner fuel for cars and trucks and improving technologies for new vehicles so that they would emit less pollution.一些最容易受到海平面上升影響的地區(qū)的州政府和市政府認(rèn)識到解決這個問題的必要性。 ?Some state and city governments in areas most vulnerable to sea level rise recognize the need to address this problem. 他們確定風(fēng)險最大的地區(qū)，確定安全的疏散路線，在遠(yuǎn)離海岸線的地方建造新的建筑物和運輸系統(tǒng)，建造海堤和沙丘，并將脆弱的物種轉(zhuǎn)移到更安全的地方。 ?They identify areas most at risk, determine safe evacuation routes, construct new buildings and transportation systems further from the coastline, build seawalls and dunes, and relocate vulnerable species to safer places.也許更重要的是非政府組織(ngo)和個人的貢獻(xiàn)。 ?By Civil SocietyPerhaps even more important is the contribution of non-government organizations (NGOs) and individuals. 來自世界各地的數(shù)百名科學(xué)家多年來一直致力于研究全球變暖和氣候變化。 ?Hundreds of scientists from around the world have devoted many years to investigating global warming and climate change. 他們在科學(xué)期刊上發(fā)表他們的發(fā)現(xiàn)。 ?They write about their findings in scientific journals. 聯(lián)合國政府間氣候變化專門委員會(IPCC)還與民間社會的科學(xué)家合作，審查科學(xué)數(shù)據(jù)，并定期發(fā)布?xì)夂蜃兓癄顩r報告。 ?In cooperation with scientists in civil society, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) of the United Nations also reviews scientific data and issues periodic reports on the status of climate change. 科學(xué)期刊的報告和IPCC的報告經(jīng)常被作者和記者通過書籍和文章，以及無數(shù)其他個人和非政府組織通過社交媒體的閃電速度推廣。 ?The scientific journal accounts and IPCC reports are often popularized by authors and journalists in books and articles, and by countless other individuals and NGOs through the lightning speed of social media.這些是英雄——科學(xué)家、作家、非政府組織和普通人，他們努力實現(xiàn)自己的夢想，為自己的孩子和全人類創(chuàng)造一個安全的未來。 ?These are the heroes — the scientists, writers, NGOs, and ordinary people who struggle to realize their dream of a safe future for their children and for all of humanity. 它們提供了持續(xù)的、大規(guī)模的知識流動，導(dǎo)致了美國和其他地方廣泛的民眾運動的形成。 ?They provide a continuous, massive flow of knowledge that has led to the formation of widespread popular moverments in the US and elsewhere. 美國的氣候變化運動由數(shù)百個地方和國家層面的大大小小的非政府組織以及數(shù)百萬致力于對抗氣候變化和健康地球的個人組成。 ?The climate change movement in the US is composed of hundreds of NGOs, both large and small, at local and national levels, as well as millions of individuals committed to fighting against climate change and for a healthy planet.

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通過聯(lián)合起來，環(huán)保主義者已經(jīng)能夠制定出大量且數(shù)量不斷增加的創(chuàng)造性和有效的策略，這些策略專門用于減緩和適應(yīng)氣候變化。 By joining forces, environmentalists have been able to develop a vast and growing number of creative and effective strategies designed especially to mitigate, but also to adapt to climate change. 這些戰(zhàn)略旨在遏制不可持續(xù)的做法，鼓勵對可再生能源和能源效率等可持續(xù)做法的依賴。 ?These strategies aim to curb unsustainable practices and instead encourage reliance on practices that are sustainable, such as renewable energy and energy efficiency. 從這些戰(zhàn)略中產(chǎn)生的行動主要針對企業(yè)，特別是大型化石燃料公司，以及在財政或法律上支持這些公司的州和國家政府。 ?The actions that flow from these strategies are largely directed at businesses, especially the big fossil fuel corporations, and at the state and national governments that support the corporations financially or legally.僅舉幾個正在采取的行動，數(shù)百萬人簽署請愿書并寫信給政府領(lǐng)導(dǎo)人和公司。 ?To name just a few of the kinds of actions being taken, millions of people sign petitions and write letters to government leaders and corporations. 環(huán)保人士組織團隊植樹。 ?Environmental activists organize teams to plant trees. 他們教育自己和他人如何在家中、工作場所和交通中減少能源浪費。 ?They educate themselves and others about ways to reduce wasteful use of energy in their homes, places of work and transportation. 他們發(fā)起撤資運動，說服大學(xué)、教堂和市政當(dāng)局取消對化石燃料公司的金融投資。 ?They run divestment campaigns to convince universities, churches and municipalities to remove their financial investments from fossil fuel companies. 他們舉行大規(guī)?？棺h示威活動，如2014年9月在紐約舉行的“人民氣候游行”。 ?They hold mass protest demonstrations such as the September 2014 People's Climate March in New York City. 這次游行得到了1500個非政府組織的支持，吸引了來自各行各業(yè)的40萬人——從工人及其工會、學(xué)生、家庭、藝術(shù)家和宗教團體，到政治家和聯(lián)合國秘書長——同時在美國和其他166個國家的許多城市舉行了大約2700次“伙伴游行”和其他活動。 ?The march was endorsed by 1 500 NGOs and attracted 400 000 people from all walks of life-from workers and their unions, students, families, artists and faith groups, to politicians and the UN Secretary General—while approximately 2 700 "companion marches" and other events were held in numerous cities in the US and 166 other countries.追隨圣雄甘地和馬丁·路德·金的腳步，一些活動家甚至組織非暴力的公民不服從抗議活動。（一群.....）??Following in the footsteps of Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr., some activists even organize nonviolent civil disobedienceprotests. 例如，記者比爾·麥基本(Bill McKibben)就是這樣一位主要的活動家，他為普通讀者撰寫了許多關(guān)于氣候變化的書籍。 ?For example, Bill McKibben, journalist and author of many books on climate change for a general audience, is one such leading activist. 他也是一個名為350的非政府組織的聯(lián)合創(chuàng)始人。 ?He is also a co-founder of an NGO called 350. 該組織成立于美國，現(xiàn)在幫助188個國家組織氣候行動。 ?org" that started in the US and now helps to organize climate actions in 188 countries. 這個名字來源于這樣一個事實:氣候科學(xué)家普遍認(rèn)為，大氣中二氧化碳相對于大氣中所有其他分子的百萬分之350 (ppm)是被認(rèn)為是安全的上限。 ?The name comes from the fact that climate scientists generally agree that 350 parts per million (ppm) of CO2 in the atmosphere relative to all the other molecules in the atmosphere is the upper limit of what is considered safe. 不幸的是，目前的含量已經(jīng)超過了400ppm。 ?Unfortunately, the present amount is currently beyond 400 ppm. 由于他的不懈努力，麥吉本獲得了許多榮譽，包括被稱為“另類諾貝爾獎”的“正確生活方式獎”。 ?McKibben has been awarded many honors for his ongoing efforts, including the Right Livelihood Award, often referred to as "the alternative Nobel Prize."2011年，麥吉本是華盛頓特區(qū)和平公民不服從行動的組織者之一，數(shù)千人包圍了白宮，拒絕離開，抗議擬議中的輸油管道Keystone XL ?In 2011, McKibben was among the organizers of a peaceful civil disobedience action in Washington, D.C., where several thousand people surrounded the White House and refused to leave in protest against the Keystone XL, a proposed pipeline

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管道將運送原油穿過幾個州。 that was to carry crude oil through several states. 由于輸油管道破裂或泄漏造成的石油泄漏和其他事故很常見，抗議活動很受歡迎，隨后在全國范圍內(nèi)出現(xiàn)了長時間的基層活動。 ?Since oil spills from ruptured or leaking pipelines and other accidents are common, the protest was popular and was followed by an extended period of grassroots actions across the country. 然后，在2013年，活動人士把自己綁在白宮的圍欄上。 ?Then, ind 2013, activists tied themselves to the White House fence. 這兩次非暴力的公民不服從行動導(dǎo)致數(shù)百人被捕，其中包括麥基本、學(xué)生、一位著名的氣候科學(xué)家和知名演員。 ?These two nonviolent civil disobedience actions resulted in the arrests of several hundred people, including McKibben, students, a prominent climate scientist, and well-known actors. 然而，這些行動也導(dǎo)致奧巴馬總統(tǒng)決定拒絕建設(shè)這條管道。 ?However, the actions also resulted in President Obama's decision to reject the construction of the pipeline.近年來，氣候正義的概念進入了氣候變化運動。 ?

A New Idea

The concept of climate justice has entered the climate change movement in recent years. 它基于這樣一種認(rèn)識，即那些最不享有特權(quán)的人往往是氣候變化的最大受害者。 ?It is based on the recognition that those who are the least privileged ared most often the greatest victims of climate change. 2016年，北達(dá)科他州立巖蘇族部落(Standing Rock Sioux Tribe)抵制修建另一條每日運輸近50萬桶原油的管道，這是氣候正義在行動中的一個顯著例子。 ?A striking example of climate justice in action can be seen in the long-lasting struggle of 2016 in North Dakota, where the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe resisted the construction of another pipeline slated to carry nearly half a million barrels of crude oil daily. 這條管道將穿過蘇族人的墓地和其他圣地，以及包括密蘇里河在內(nèi)的許多水體。 ?The pipeline would cross Sioux burial grounds and other sacred sites, as well as many bodies of water, including the Missouri River. 由于擔(dān)心這條管道會污染他們的水和下游數(shù)百萬人的供水，產(chǎn)生大量溫室氣體，破壞他們的文化和生活方式，他們提出抗議。 ?Concerned that the pipeline would lead to the contamination of their water and the water supply of millions of people downstream, the creation of large quantities of GHGs, and the destruction of their culture and way of life, they protested. 他們被稱為“水保護者”。 ?They became known as "water protectors."在一場偉大的團結(jié)示威中，美國和其他許多國家都舉行了集會。 ?In a great show of solidarity, there were rallies around the US and many other countries. 盡管在立石鎮(zhèn)的和平示威活動一再遭到警察的鎮(zhèn)壓，而且往往是殘酷的，但數(shù)千名支持者前往立石鎮(zhèn)參加抗議活動，抗議活動日復(fù)一日地持續(xù)了數(shù)月。 ?Even though the peaceful demonstrations at Standing Rock were repeatedly met with police force, often brutal, thousands of supporters travelled to Standing Rock to join the protests, which continued day after day for months. 支持者包括來自北美各地的300多個土著民族，遠(yuǎn)至新西蘭，數(shù)千名非土著居民和近3000名美國退伍軍人。 ?The supporters included over 300 indigenous nations from across North America and as far away as New Zealand, thousands of non-indigenous people and nearly 3 000 US military veterans. 聯(lián)合國土著問題常設(shè)論壇也宣布支持。 ?The Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues of the United Nations also proclaimed its support. 在經(jīng)歷了數(shù)百年的虐待之后，處于氣候變化前沿的土著人民已經(jīng)成為氣候正義運動的主導(dǎo)力量。 ?After hundreds of years of maltreatment, indigenous people, who are among those in the frontlines of climate change, have become a leading force in the climate justice movement.

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接下來干什么? What Next?

與美國一樣，世界各地各級人民和政府正在采取行動，減緩和適應(yīng)氣候變化。 ?As in the United States, people and governments at all levels around the world are taking action to mitigate and adapt to climate change. 2015年12月，聯(lián)合國在法國巴黎舉行了一次歷史性的會議，來自世界各地的政府和民間團體參加了氣候變化會議。 ?In December of 2015, theUnited Nations held an historic gathering of governments and civil society from around the world for a Climate Change Conference in Paris, France. 會議產(chǎn)生了所謂的《巴黎協(xié)定》，這是世界上第一個全面的氣候協(xié)議。 ?The Conference produced what is called the Paris Agreement, the world's first comprehensive climate agreement. 該協(xié)議于2016年11月生效，截至2017年6月，已有195個國家簽署了該協(xié)議。 ?It went into effect in November 2016, and as of June 2017, 195 nations signed the agreement. 《巴黎協(xié)定》的主要目標(biāo)是避免災(zāi)難性的氣候變化，將本世紀(jì)全球氣溫上升幅度控制在高于工業(yè)化前水平?2°C(最好是1.5°C)的范圍之內(nèi)。 ?The main goal of the Agreement is to avoid catastrophic climate changeby limiting the global temperature rise this century to well below 2°C, preferably 1.5°C,above pre-industrial levels.?整個會議都強調(diào)了與氣候變化作斗爭的緊迫性。 ?The urgency of the battle against climate change was emphasized throughoutthe Conference. 隨著全球平均氣溫的持續(xù)上升，世界人民逐漸認(rèn)識到氣候變化正在向我們逼近，如果我們要避免災(zāi)難，我們都有責(zé)任解決這一危機，而且要盡快解決。 ?As the average global temperature continues to rise, the people ofthe world are coming to know that climate change is now upon us and that we are all responsible for resolving this crisis and resolving it soon if we are to avert catastrophe. 美國的工業(yè)化比許多其他國家都要早，長期以來一直在排放溫室氣體，并且仍然是世界上人均溫室氣體排放量最大的國家之一。 ?The US, which industrialized earlier than many other countries, has been emitting GHGs for a very long time, and continues to emit among the greatest amount of GHGs per capita in the world. 但是二氧化碳是無國界的。 ?But CO2 knows no borders. 溫室氣體不一定會留在它們排放的地方:一個地方排放的溫室氣體會影響到其他地方，因為溫室氣體會在我們星球周圍的大氣中積累。 ?GHGs don't necessarily remainwhere they were emitted: those discharged in one place affect other places as thedGHGs accumulate in the atmosphere all around our planet.因此，如果我們要拯救農(nóng)田，植物和參天大樹，海洋，河流和湖泊，動物，我們自己，我們必須共同努力，我們必須努力工作。 ?Thus, if we are to save the farmlands, the plants and towering trees, the oceans,rivers and lakes, the animals, ourselves, we must work together, and we must workhard. 世界各地的環(huán)保人士正帶頭傳播這樣一個信息:無論生活在哪里，人類都是一個大家庭。 ?Environmentalists around the globe are taking the lead in spreading the word thathuman beings, regardless of where they live, are really one big family. 這是人類未來的希望。 ?This is the hopefor the future of humankind.

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