Negotiators from nearly 200 nations reached a deal in Durban on Dec. 11, 2011, to work towards a new global pact to reduce carbon emissions. The Kyoto Protocol was also discussed and would be extended for a second period of 5 or 8 years.
The challenge is that we begin the talks from the lowest common denominator of every party’s aspirations.
―Jennifer Haverkamp, staff of Environmental Defense Fund said.
It’s a middle ground, we meet mid-way. Of course we are not completely happy about the outcome. It lacks balance, but we believe it is starting to go into the right direction.
―Tosi Mpanu-Mpanu, head of Africa Group said.
Only a day after the Durban climate conference, Canada announced exit from Kyoto Protocol, and became the first country to formally withdraw from the Kyoto.
The Kyoto Protocol does not cover the world’s largest two emitters, the US and China, and therefore cannot work. It’s now clear that Kyoto is not the path forward to a global solution to climate change.
―Canada’s Environment Minister Peter Kent said.
Mr Kent doesn’t understand what he is sentencing our children to. Catastrophic climate change will cost them far more.
―John Bennett, a Canadian environmentalist said.
negotiator 谈判者
Durban 德班（南非港口城市）
pact协定
emission排放
Kyoto Protocol 《京都议定书》
denominator共性，共同点
aspiration愿望
withdraw 退出
catastrophic 灾难性的
标签：Voice