双语 - 世界面临的气候选择：能源转型势在必行

本文首发于《中国日报》

Originally published on China Daily

第26届联合国气候变化大会（COP26）接近尾声，气候危机使人类正站在命运的十字路口，面临着生死攸关的抉择。我们不能再继续走原来的老路了，因为这样下去会导致数百万物种灭绝，而最终灭绝的恐怕会是人类自己。但是，我们如果抓住机遇，选择另外一条可持续的道路，仍可为人类和地球创造一个共享的美好未来。

As COP 26 draws to a close, humanity stands at a critical crossroads. The path we have travelled until now cannot continue much further, for it ends in extinction for millions of species－and, ultimately, humankind. Yet, another path remains open, to a lasting future for us and our planet－if we take it in time.

中国国家主席习近平曾说：“气候变化是大自然对人类敲响的警钟”。对亚洲来说尤其如此，因为全球80%受气候变化影响最大的人口，都在亚洲。[1] 

"Climate change is nature's alarm bell," President Xi Jinping said. It rings especially loud for Asia, home to 80 percent of the people globally who will be worst-affected.

仅今年一年，中国河南省爆发暴雨灾害，印度尼西亚南加里曼丹省也同样遭遇几十年来最严重的洪水，还有欧洲及美国发生的严重干旱和灾难性森林大火等。这几起事件仅是今年全球频发极端天气灾害的一小部分。 

This year, we saw massive flooding in Central China's Henan province, while Indonesia's South Kalimantan province also experienced its worst flood in decades. These were just two of the extreme climate-related events that have occurred around the world, which also include severe droughts and catastrophic wildfires across Europe and the United States.

为避免气候灾难，《巴黎协定》制定了将全球变暖限制在1.5摄氏度的理想目标，这意味着世界应在未来八年内将温室气体的年排放量减半。

To avert climate catastrophe, the Paris Agreement aims to limit temperature rises to 1.5°C above preindustrial levels, which requires the world to cut annual greenhouse gas emissions by half over the next eight years.

然而，即便COP26已经召开，全球依然没有为实现该目标步入正轨。如果全球不继续加大减排力度，到本世纪末人类可能面临全球气温上升2.7摄氏度的灾难性后果。

Yet, going into the COP 26, the world was not on track to meet this target. Instead, we face the prospect of a disastrous 2.7°C of warming by the end of the century. 

在过去的一周里，随着各国陆续做出承诺，世界有望将全球气温上升控制在接近2.0摄氏度。但我们完全可以更具雄心，努力将全球变暖限制在1.5摄氏度，不然后果仍将十分严重。

With the latest commitments made by countries over the last week, we are moving closer toward 2°C, but we must be even more ambitious. Unless we stay within 1.5°C, the consequences will still be severe.

但世界各国每年却要花费4230亿美元的巨款用于化石燃料补贴——这些钱本可以让世界上每个人都接种2019冠状病毒病（亦称“新冠肺炎”）疫苗，也是消除全球极端贫困每年所需资金的三倍。

Yet the world spends $423 billion annually to subsidize them－an amount that could vaccinate every person on earth against COVID-19, or three times what is needed every year to end extreme poverty globally.

当务之急是将这些投资转用于增进人类和地球福祉，而不是为其带来危害。用联合国开发计划署署长阿奇姆·施泰纳的话说，“如果我们不能使全球经济增长与污染排放脱钩，人类的后果将不堪设想。”[2]

Such investments must urgently be redirected toward people and planet, instead of undermining both. Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme Achim Steiner said, "if we cannot decouple economic growth globally from emissions, we are doomed."

中国已做好准备进行能源改革。在太阳能、风能等可再生能源技术和绿色金融方面，中国已处于世界领先水平。[3]

China is well-positioned to enable the necessary transformation. It is a leader in renewable technologies such as solar and wind, along with green finance. 

在联合国大会上，中国连续宣布了两项重要决议，即在2030年实现碳达峰、2060年实现碳中和，同时停止在海外新建燃煤电厂，进一步增强了应对气候变化的承诺。鉴于中国目前是世界上最大的二氧化碳排放国[4]，这些举措将为世界带来重要的改变。不过，一切都必须以具体的行动计划为支撑。

China's two consecutive announcements at the UN General Assembly－to peak CO2 emissions before 2030 and achieve net zero before 2060, as well as to stop building overseas coal power plants－have reinforced its commitment to combating climate change. Given that China is currently the world's largest carbon emitter, these are game changers. However, they must be underpinned by concrete plans.

中国国务院最近发布了《中共中央国务院关于完整准确全面贯彻新发展理念做好碳达峰碳中和工作的意见》和《2030年前碳达峰行动方案》两项重要文件。这即是对其承诺的重要支持，也为中国实现净零排放提供了更清晰的路线。

The two most important policy documents supporting these－the Guidance for Carbon Peaking and Carbon Neutrality, together with the Action Plan for Carbon Peaking before 2030－were recently released by the State Council, China's Cabinet, providing a clearer and more concrete road map for China to lower carbon emissions. In particular, they put forward specific emissions targets for key sectors including steel, energy and transport, which will be vital in achieving the goal of net zero.

为了使得全球升温1.5度的目标不再遥不可及，我们应该抓住机遇，加速气候行动。这要求最好能在2030年之前尽早实现碳达峰，并减少化石燃料（尤其是煤炭）的消费。同时应该引导投资从脱碳难度较高的重工业领域转移到绿色科技的研发，因为科技的变革有可能成为解决气候变化问题的关键。这些领域的投资并不是额外的开销，而是我们对未来的投资——因为对人类以及地球的福祉而言，不采取行动的代价是巨大的。

This is an opportunity to accelerate action, so 1.5°C remains within reach. It requires peaking emissions ideally well before 2030 and reducing the consumption of fossil fuels, particularly coal, as early as possible. Investments should be channeled toward innovating and developing green technologies, which hold the key to limiting climate change. Such areas should be viewed as investments in our future, not costs－because the costs of inaction to people, planet and prosperity would be infinitely higher.