文本选自：The Economist（经济学人）
作者：Unknown
原文标题：The struggle to kill King Coal
原文发布时间：12 Jun. 2022
The struggle to kill King Coal
In November 2021, at a un summit in Glasgow, the world's leaders declared to much fanfare that they were consigning coal to the ash heap of history. Governments promised to stop building coal-fired power plants, and financiers pledged to stop financing coal mines. Eighteen months on, however, the world's dirtiest fuel is still smoking. Russia's invasion of Ukraine set off a scramble for fossil fuels, pushing coal consumption to record levels in 2022. Even though the energy shock has faded, global coal demand is still set to rise a little this year. If the increase in the world's temperature is to be limited to 1.5°C, coal production must fall by more than two-thirds over the course of this decade. Instead it is projected to fall by less than a fifth.
One reason for the hopeful prediction of 2021 was the spate of commitments made by the world's biggest banks and other lenders and investors. More than 200 mainly Western financiers have announced policies restricting investments in coal mining or coal-fired power plants. Lenders representing fully two-fifths of global banking assets have signed up to the Net-Zero Banking Alliance, which pledges to align portfolios with achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.
The hope was that reducing the finance available for fossil fuels would help the world decarbonise by raising the cost of capital for projects, deterring investment and ultimately choking off supply. But the coal boom is exposing the flaws in this approach.
消灭煤炭之战
精听党背景导读
当今世界面临着前所未有的气候问题，全球变暖、极端天气事件、海平面上升等现象不断加剧，给地球生态系统和人类社会带来了巨大挑战。气候变化已经成为全球范围内的紧迫议题，需要全球各国共同努力来应对。本文将探讨当前世界面临的主要气候问题及其对环境和人类的影响，并探索应对气候变化的可能解决方案。
文本选自：The Economist（经济学人）作者：Unknown原文标题：The struggle to kill King Coal原文发布时间：12 Jun. 2022关键词：煤炭 环境 投资
精听党带着问题听
1.“历史的灰烬堆”用英语可以怎么表达？2. 如何理解段一“Eighteen months on”中的“on”？3. 代表全球银行业资产总额五分之二的贷款机构做了什么事情？
精听党选段赏析
标题解读
The struggle to kill King Coal
消灭煤炭之战
struggle n. 斗争；奋斗；努力；
King Coal 煤炭行业；
段一
In November 2021, at a UN summit in Glasgow, the world's leaders declared to much fanfare that they were consigning coal to the ash heap of history. Governments promised to stop building coal-fired power plants, and financiers pledged to stop financing coal mines. Eighteen months on, however, the world's dirtiest fuel is still smoking. Russia's invasion of Ukraine set off a scramble(仅代表原刊观点) for fossil fuels, pushing coal consumption to record levels in 2022. Even though the energy shock has faded, global coal demand is still set to rise a little this year. If the increase in the world's temperature is to be limited to 1.5°C, coal production must fall by more than two-thirds over the course of this decade. Instead it is projected to fall by less than a fifth.
summit n. 峰会，高峰会议；1. The leaders gathered at the economic summit to discuss global trade issues. 各国领导人聚集在经济峰会上讨论全球贸易问题。2. n. 山顶，顶峰；
They reached the summit of the mountain after a long and difficult climb. 经过长时间艰苦的攀登，他们到达了山顶。
declare vt. 宣布，声明；1. The president will declare a state of emergency. 总统将宣布进入紧急状态。
to much fanfare 大张旗鼓，轰动一时；1. The new product was launched to much fanfare and media attention. 这种新产品一经推出就受到了媒体的大肆宣传和关注。2. fanfare n. （为庆祝而在媒体上的）喧耀；
consign vt. 把…交托，委托，托付；
ash heap of history 历史的灰烬堆；
coal-fired adj. 燃煤的；
power plants 发电厂，电力站；1. plant n. 发电厂；工厂；
financier n. 金融家；
pledge vi. 保证，发誓；1. The government pledged to take action on climate change. 政府承诺对气候变化采取行动。2. n. 誓言，保证，承诺；
He made a pledge to support the charity organization. 他承诺支持慈善组织。
finance vt. 提供资金；
invasion n. 入侵，侵略；
set off 引发，触发；1. The announcement set off a wave of protests. 这一声明引发了抗议浪潮。2. The sound of fireworks set off a dog barking. 烟花的声音引起了狗的叫声。
scramble n. 争抢；抢占；争夺；
energy shock 能源冲击，能源震荡；1. The energy shock caused by the sudden increase in oil prices had a significant impact on the global economy. 油价突然上涨引发的能源冲击对全球经济产生了重大影响。
fade vi. 逐渐消失，褪色；1. The memories of that day slowly faded over time. 随着时间的推移，那天的记忆慢慢淡去了。2. The colors of the painting have faded due to exposure to sunlight. 这幅画因暴露在阳光下而褪色了。
set to 开始，准备；
project vt. 预测；预计；推想；1. He projected his sales for the next quarter based on previous trends. 他根据以往的趋势预测了下个季度的销售额。2. n. 项目，计划；
The construction project will be completed by the end of the year. 这一建设工程将于今年年底完工。
参考译文
2021年11月，在格拉斯哥的一次联合国峰会上，世界各国领导人庄严宣布将煤炭置于历史的灰烬堆中。各国政府承诺停止建设燃煤电厂，金融家们承诺停止对煤矿的融资。然而，18个月过去了，这种世界上最肮脏的燃料仍在散发浓烟。俄罗斯入侵乌克兰引发了对化石燃料的争夺，将2022年的煤炭消费量推至创纪录的水平。尽管能源冲击已经消退，但今年全球煤炭需求仍将小幅上升。如果要将全球气温上升控制在1.5摄氏度以内，煤炭产量必须在这十年里减少三分之二以上。相反，它预计将下降不到五分之一。
段二
One reason for the hopeful prediction of 2021 was the spate of commitments made by the world's biggest banks and other lenders and investors. More than 200 mainly Western financiers have announced policies restricting investments in coal mining or coal-fired power plants. Lenders representing fully two-fifths of global banking assets have signed up to the Net-Zero Banking Alliance, which pledges to align portfolios with achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.
spate n. 大量，泛滥，洪水；1. The city experienced a spate of robberies last month. 这个城市上个月发生了一连串的抢劫案。2. The heavy rain caused a spate of road closures. 大雨导致大量道路封闭。
commitment n. 承诺，责任，义务；1. She has shown unwavering commitment to her charitable causes. 她对慈善事业表现出坚定不移的承诺。2. commit v. 承诺，委托，交付；
Net-Zero Banking Alliance 净零银行业联盟；
align vt. 使一致，使排成一线；1. The students were instructed to align their papers on the desk.学生们被指示把课桌上的卷子排成一行。
portfolio n. （个人或机构的）投资组合；1. n. 作品集；
The graphic designer showcased her portfolio to potential clients. 这位平面设计师向潜在客户展示了她的作品集。
net-zero adj. 零净排放的；1. The government has set a goal to reach net-zero emissions by 2050. 政府设定了到2050年实现零净排放的目标。
emission n. 排放物，散发物；1. The company is working on reducing its carbon emissions. 该公司正在努力减少其碳排放量。2. The regulations aim to limit the emissions of harmful pollutants from vehicles. 这些规定旨在限制汽车有害污染物的排放。
参考译文
对2021年做出充满希望的预测的一个原因是，全球最大的银行和其他贷款机构和投资者做出了大量承诺。200多家主要来自西方的金融机构宣布了限制煤炭开采或燃煤电厂投资的政策。占全球银行资产五分之二的银行已经签署了净零银行业联盟(Net-Zero banking Alliance)，该联盟承诺到2050年将投资组合与实现净零排放保持一致。
段三
The hope was that reducing the finance available for fossil fuels would help the world decarbonise by raising the cost of capital for projects, deterring investment and ultimately choking off supply. But the coal boom is exposing the flaws in this approach.
decarbonise vi. 脱碳，减少碳排放；1. The government has set ambitious targets to decarbonise the economy by 2050. 政府制定了雄心勃勃的目标，到2050年实现经济脱碳。
capital n. 资本；1. Entrepreneurs often seek venture capital to start their businesses. 企业家经常寻求风险资本来创业。
deter vt. 阻止，威慑；
choke vi. 窒息；1. The smoke was choking me, and I couldn't catch my breath. 烟呛得我喘不过气来。2. v. 阻塞，堵塞；
A buildup of debris in the pipes can choke the flow of water. 管道中堆积的杂物会堵塞水流。
boom n. 繁荣；迅速增长；1. The construction industry experienced a boom, with new buildings going up everywhere. 建筑业经历了一次繁荣，到处都是新建筑。2. v. 发出巨响；
The thunder boomed and echoed through the valley. 雷声隆隆，回荡在山谷中。
expose vt. 暴露，揭露；
flaw n. 缺陷，瑕疵；
approach n. 方法，途径；1. The company is taking a new approach to marketing its products. 该公司正在采取一种新方法推销其产品。2. v. 接近，靠近；
As I approached the house, I noticed a friendly dog wagging its tail. 当我走近房子时，我注意到一只友善的狗摇着尾巴。
参考译文
人们希望，减少化石燃料的可用资金，将通过提高项目的资金成本、阻止投资并最终切断供应，从而帮助世界实现脱碳。但煤炭热潮暴露了这种方法的缺陷。
精听党每日单词
struggle
/ˈstrʌɡ(ə)l/ n. 斗争；奋斗；努力；
King Coal
煤炭行业；
summit
/ˈsʌmɪt/ n. 峰会，高峰会议；
declare
/dɪˈkler/ vt. 宣布，声明；
to much fanfare
大张旗鼓，轰动一时；
consign
/kənˈsaɪn/ vt. 把…交托，委托，托付；
ash heap of history
历史的灰烬堆；
coal-fired
/ˌkoʊl ˈfaɪərd/ adj. 燃煤的；
power plants
发电厂，电力站；
financier
/ˌfɪnənˈsɪr/ n. 金融家；
pledge
/pledʒ/ vi. 保证，发誓；
finance
/ˈfaɪnæns/ vt. 提供资金；
invasion
/ɪnˈveɪʒ(ə)n/ n. 入侵，侵略；
set off
引发，触发；
scramble
/ˈskræmb(ə)l/ n. 争抢；抢占；争夺；
energy shock
能源冲击，能源震荡；
fade
/feɪd/ vi. 逐渐消失，褪色；
set to
开始，准备；
project
/prəˈdʒekt/ vt. 预测；预计；推想；
spate
/speɪt/ n. 大量，泛滥，洪水；
commitment
/kəˈmɪtmənt/ n. 承诺，责任，义务；
Net-Zero Banking Alliance
净零银行业联盟；
align
/əˈlaɪn/ vt. 使一致，使排成一线；
portfolio
/pɔːrtˈfoʊlioʊ/ n. （个人或机构的）投资组合；
net-zero
/net ˈzɪroʊ/ adj. 零净排放的；
emission
/ɪˈmɪʃ(ə)n/ n. 排放物，散发物；
decarbonise
/ˌdiːˈkɑːrbənaɪz/ vi. 脱碳，减少碳排放；
capital
/ˈkæpɪt(ə)l/ n. 资本；
deter
/dɪˈtɜːr/ vt. 阻止，威慑；
choke
/tʃoʊk/ vi. 窒息；
boom
/buːm/ n. 繁荣；迅速增长；
expose
/ɪkˈspoʊz/ vt. 暴露，揭露；
flaw
/flɔː/ n. 缺陷，瑕疵；
approach
/əˈproʊtʃ/ n. 方法，途径；
精听党文化拓展
全球气候变暖是一种和自然有关的现象，是由于温室效应不断积累，导致地气系统吸收与发射的能量不平衡，能量不断在地气系统累积，从而导致温度上升，造成全球气候变暖。
由于人们焚烧化石燃料，如石油，煤炭等，或砍伐森林并将其焚烧时会产生大量的二氧化碳，即温室气体，这些温室气体对来自太阳辐射的可见光具有高度透过性，而对地球发射出来的长波辐射具有高度吸收性，能强烈吸收地面辐射中的红外线，导致地球温度上升，即温室效应。全球变暖会使全球降水量重新分配、冰川和冻土消融、海平面上升等，不仅危害自然生态系统的平衡，还影响人类健康甚至威胁人类的生存。
另一方面，由于陆地温室气体排放造成大陆气温升高，与海洋温差变小，进而造成了空气流动减慢，雾霾无法短时间被吹散，造成很多城市雾霾天气增多，影响人类健康。汽车限行，暂停生产等措施只有短期和局部效果，并不能从根本上改变气候变暖和雾霾污染。
为阻止全球变暖趋势，1992年联合国专门制订了《联合国气候变化框架公约》，该公约于同年在巴西城市里约热内卢签署生效。依据该公约，发达国家同意在2000年之前将他们释放到大气层的二氧化碳及其它“温室气体”的排放量降至1990年时的水平。另外，这些每年二氧化碳合计排放量占到全球二氧化碳总排放量60%的国家还同意将相关技术和信息转让给发展中国家。发达国家转让给发展中国家的这些技术和信息有助于后者积极应对气候变化带来的各种挑战。目前已有197个国家正式批准了上述公约。
用受限的生活方式，减少热量排放：工业服务于生活，生活用品受限，工业自然减少。减少热量排放应放在每个人的日常生活习惯上，用固定的生活方式生活习惯，制定出固定的生活用品，用固定的生活用品，限制生活用品的滥用，用有限度的使用生活用品，达到限量生产，限量加工，从而抑制工业泛滥，减少热量排放。
精听党每日美句
A person both calculated plan, if not promptly carry out, will come to regret.
一个人既有成算，若不迅速进行，必至后悔莫及。