本周,來自192個國家的官員將齊聚哥本哈根,探討如何應對全球氣候變化問題,他們將尋求達成一項新的協(xié)議,以接替1997年簽署的《京都議定書》(Kyoto Protocol)。即便各國在此次會議上無法達成一項具約束力的協(xié)議,許多國家也希望至少能夠約定減少各國溫室氣體排放量,并向最有可能受到全球變暖影響沖擊的發(fā)展中國家提供幫助。
This week, officials from 192 countries will meet in Copenhagen to tackle global climate change, seeking a successor to the 1997 Kyoto Protocol. Even if they can't negotiate a binding agreement, many countries hope at least to work out commitments to reduce their greenhouse-gas emissions and provide assistance to poorer countries likely to be hardest hit by the effects of global warming.
當然,每個國家都有自己特殊的當務之急和種種顧慮。我們不妨看看幾個國家針對此次哥本哈根之行的一些議事日程。
Each country, of course, has its own particular priorites and concerns, which is why an agreement is so difficult to reach. Here's a look at some of their agendas for Copenhagen.
美國U.S.
美國未能通過氣候變化法案意味著哥本哈根峰會達成協(xié)議將被延后。不過,仍在國會有待批準的議案以及奧巴馬政府監(jiān)管溫室氣體排放量的權力讓美國政府樹立起可信度,并增加了其談判的砝碼,為最終促成協(xié)議定下基礎。美國政府可能仍會承諾到2020年美國二氧化碳排放總量下降17%,同時為發(fā)展中國家的低碳項目提供資金援助,以使各國達成協(xié)議。美國還希望其它國家,主要是中國和印度承諾其溫室氣體排放量何時達到頂峰,并要求兩國政府制定嚴格的有關報告、監(jiān)控和核查溫室氣體排放量和減排量的標準。
The U.S.'s failure to pass climate-change legislation has meant a delay in a deal at Copenhagen. But pending bills in Congress and the Obama administration's authority to regulate emissions give the country credibility -- and negotiating leverage toward an eventual agreement. The U.S. may still pledge to cut emissions about 17% by 2020, while offering funding of low-carbon initiatives for poorer countries to draw them to an agreement. The U.S. also wants other countries, mainly China and India, to commit on when their greenhouse-gas emissions will peak, and will demand stringent standards for reporting, monitoring and verification of emissions and reductions.
中國China
中國已經(jīng)承諾,到2020年中國單位國內(nèi)生產(chǎn)總值二氧化碳排放比2005年下降40%-45%。這意味著中國將進行自愿減排,因此,不太可能寫進一份有法律約束力的氣候變化協(xié)議。但是,這也體現(xiàn)了中國對哥本哈根峰會達成協(xié)議抱有興趣,這可能會給中國帶來各種好處;中國將從發(fā)達國家獲得更多的資金援助和技術轉(zhuǎn)讓。作為太陽能和風電設備的出口大國,中國還將獲得更多的產(chǎn)品需求。讓中國政府最為擔心的則是結(jié)束《京都議定書》有關在發(fā)展中國家的減排可以帶來可交易的碳排放額度的條款;中國一直是相關機制的最大受益者,其獲得的碳排放額度占總量的59%。
China has pledged to curb carbon emissions as a percentage of gross domestic product by 40% to 45% by 2020. These would be voluntary cuts and therefore unlikely to be part of a binding climate-change pact. But it signals China's interest in an agreement at Copenhagen. Such a deal could bring the country benefits: more funding and technology transfers from developed nations, and as an exporter of solar-power and wind-power equipment, increased demand for its products. What China dreads most is the end of Kyoto provisions that grant tradable credits for reducing emissions; China has been the top receiver for the credits, getting 59% of the total.
印度India
印度政府長期以來都在抵制實施碳排放上限。印度說準備在2020年將排放強度削減20%-25%,但不會接受有法律約束力的減排指標。印度辯解稱,印度在考慮固定的排放峰值之前,需要發(fā)展和經(jīng)濟增長,而發(fā)達國家肩負采取更多限制性措施的歷史責任,因為它們才是導致幾十年來氣候遭到損害的罪魁禍首。印度政府也支持利用資金援助和技術轉(zhuǎn)讓刺激綠色能源解決方案。近來,印度領導人已經(jīng)顯示出變通的跡象,自印度去年粉碎世界貿(mào)易談判之后,他們急于證明自己不會成為哥本哈根峰會的破壞者。
India, which has long resisted the imposition of carbon-emission caps, says it is ready to cut emissions intensity 20% to 25% by 2020, but won't accept legally binding targets. It argues that it needs development and economic growth before it should consider fixed emission caps and that the developed world has a historic responsibility to take more restrictive measures because it caused decades of atmospheric damage. India also favors financing and technology transfer to boost green energy solutions.
俄羅斯Russia
氣候變化問題并非俄羅斯政府議事日程的重點;其注意力集中在旨在推動前蘇聯(lián)時期工業(yè)基礎設施節(jié)能化所需的大量投資上。俄羅斯政府的目標是到2020年將能源效率提高40%。有關外交官稱,俄羅斯愿意將碳排放從1990年的水平減少20%到25%。俄羅斯總理普京(Vladimir Putin)則表示,俄羅斯愿意簽署后《京都議定書》協(xié)議,前提其它國家也要簽署此項協(xié)議,而且俄羅斯森林對于減少全球二氧化碳排放量的貢獻亦被考慮其中。
Climate change isn't high on Russia's agenda; its attention is on the massive investments it needs to make its aging Soviet-era industrial infrastructure more energy-efficient -- with a goal of a 40% improvement in energy efficiency by 2020. Diplomats say the country is willing to reduce emissions between 20% and 25% from 1990 levels. Prime Minister Vladimir Putin says Russia will join a post-Kyoto agreement only if other countries sign up for it and if Russian forests' contribution to reducing global carbon dioxide is taken into account.