英文外刊精读丨节能减排目标
今天带大家精读的是选自经济学人20191019期Leaders板块的Carbon-reduction targets中的一大段。讲的是设定碳排放量为零的目标，其中很多词汇都可以用在环保类的英文写作当中。
原文
As public opinion shifts, politicians are reacting by adopting new policies. One of the most popular is to set targets to reach “net zero” carbon emissions within a defined geographical border. These targets have plenty going for them. They are easy to understand, galvanising and will spur countries to shift their energy mix towards renewables. They also have two drawbacks. One stems from the word “net”. Net zero means taking as much carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere as you put in, and this requires assumptions about as yet unproven ways of subtracting that carbon from the atmosphere. The more generous such assumptions are, the less emissions need to be cut. The other is that, because they ignore the impact of trade, such targets typically undercount the emissions for which rich countries are responsible. Countries and cities tackling climate change need to make their assumptions more transparent and take a more holistic view of their carbon footprint.
这是Carbon-reduction targets一文的音频，这一段从52秒开始。建议本文全部看完，搞定生词之后再盲听一遍。
由于这一段篇幅较长，我按照结构将其分为了两小段：
第一段
①As public opinion shifts, politicians are reacting by adopting new policies. ②One of the most popular is to set targets to reach “net zero” carbon emissions within a defined geographical border. ③These targets have plenty going for them. ④They are easy to understand, galvanising and will spur countries to shift their energy mix towards renewables.
段落分析：这一段讲的是应对气候变化的目标(targets)及其优点。第①句话由政策实行进行引入，核心词为new policies。第②句话进行细化(one of)，范围由new policies缩小到targets，即本段和下一段的中心。第③句提出观点(have plenty going for them)。接下来第⑤句举例论证。
注意一下这一段当中几句话之间的连接：③④两句则通过代词these targets，they指代第②句的targets。在段落写作当中，就可以利用这些方法避免重复，增加可读性以及上下句的连接性(Cohesion)。
①As public opinion shifts, politicians are reacting by adopting new policies.
在这句话中，as虽然是表伴随，但是根据句子中的react by可以看出来，public opinion shifts和adopting new policies实际上是存在因果关系的。因此这句话如果单独写的话，可以写成如下形式：Politicians are adopting new policies in response to shifting public opinions.(response的动词respond与react是同义词)。但是这句话在文章中实际上是承上启下句，上半句承接上一段，new policies引出这一段。因此改写的句子显然没有原句效果好。
public opinion就是我们平时说的社会舆论。比如表示大众对某件事褒贬不一，可以说Public opinion is deeply divided on sth.如果是表示大多数对某件事的观点时，可以说It is widely believed/accepted that...或There is a widely held view that..
shift表示观点/态度/偏好的转变(if an idea, attitude, or plan shifts, or if someone shifts it, it changes)。是个非常不错的写作词汇，尤其是在环保类话题当中。比如远离化石燃料：shift away from dirty sources of fuel such as coal(fossil fuels)| 选择清洁能源：shift towards cleaner/sustainable energy sources such as wind and solar power
adopt在这里表示采取(措施/方法等)。在写作中写到政府/公司采取什么措施时，就可以用到这个词。如The government should adopt a more effective approach to addressing environmental problems. 表示采用措施，还有一个非常高频的词：introduce。introduce表示首次推行，如It helps for the government to introduce a carbon tax.
②One of the most popular is to set targets to reach “net zero” carbon emissions within a defined geographical border.
popular后面为了避免重复，省去了句①中提到的targets。to引导的不定式虽然表示目的，但是在这句话当中其实就相当于一个“同位语”：对targets进行解释，即什么样的目标。
“net zero” carbon emissions可以理解为碳的净排放量为零。
within a defined geographical border实际上就是在每个国家境内。这篇文章的第四段用了另一个词：But most net-zero targets refer only to the carbon produced within the target-setting entitys borders.
entity表示实体(something that exists as a single and complete unit)。经常用来指代国家或公司。在上面这句话中指的就是各个国家。
③These targets have plenty going for them. ④They are easy to understand, galvanising and will spur countries to shift their energy mix towards renewables.
have plenty going for them来源于短语have something going for sb(if a person or thing has something going for them, they have an advantage, skill, or other positive quality)某事有优点。这里将sth改成了plenty，说明有很多优点，对应第④句。plenty是个代词，可以直接使用，表示plenty of sth/sb。
galvanising表示激励某人采取行动。
spur[spɜː(r)](to encourage someone to do something)促使某人做某事。spur sb to do sth就相当于encourage/prompt sb to do sth。如The prospect of failing my exams spurred me to study harder.
energy mix表示能源结构。shift their energy mix towards renewables这句话可以直接用在环保类的写作当中。
renewables表示可再生能源。相当于renewable energy。区别在于，renewables是可数名词，而renewable energy是不可数名词。在写作中表示“能源”时千万不要写成energies了。如果作某些句子成分时必须要用复数，可以将energy改成energy sources。
参考译文
为应对社会舆论的改变，政府正在采取新的政策。其中最受欢迎的一项政策就是设定目标，在界定的边界内实现碳的净排放为零的小目标。这些目标通俗易懂，具有激励性并将促使各国调整能源结构，更多的使用可再生能源。
第二段
①They also have two drawbacks. ②One stems from the word “net”. ③Net zero means taking as much carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere as you put in, and this requires assumptions about as yet unproven ways of subtracting that carbon from the atmosphere. ④The more generous such assumptions are, the less emissions need to be cut. ⑤The other is that, because they ignore the impact of trade, such targets typically undercount the emissions for which rich countries are responsible. ⑥Countries and cities tackling climate change need to make their assumptions more transparent and take a more holistic view of their carbon footprint.
段落分析：这一段讲的是这些目标(targets)的弊端。段落结构很清晰，第①句为中心句。②⑤两句分别为两个分论点。③④两句是对第一个分论点的解释论证，第⑤句是对第二个分论点的解释论证。第⑥给出了一个建议，即如何解决第二个弊端。
这一段中心句当中的关键词为two drawbacks，因此两个分论点分别由one和the other引导的。如果中心句的关键词为several drawbacks，那么后面如果有两个分论点，就可以用one和another引导。
①They also have two drawbacks.
这句话在形式上与上文是并列关系，但其实也包含一层转折关系。可以看出来，这一段的篇幅明显多于上一段。说明这一段内容的重要性要高于上一段。
由于在原文中，这一句是直接与上一句连起来的，因此表达较为简洁。如果是另起一段的话，我们可以用之前讲过的一个承上启下的表达进行改写：
Yet set against these merits/benefits are two drawbacks.英文外刊精读丨电子支付
②One stems from the word “net”. ③Net zero means taking as much carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere as you put in, and this requires assumptions about as yet unproven ways of subtracting that carbon from the atmosphere. ④The more generous such assumptions are, the less emissions need to be cut.
第③句的assumption虽然是名词，但是表示是其实是动词的概念，即“对...做出假设”
stem from(to be caused by something)起源于,由...造成的。是个非常不错的写作词汇。如果觉得result from用的太多了，就可以用一用stem from。如Their disagreement stemmed from a misunderstanding.表示由...造成的，还可以用arise from。但是arise from更多地是指问题，比如problems arising from traffic congestion由交通拥堵造成的问题。这两个都是C1词汇(高级词汇)。
as yet至今为止。表示的是尚未发生的事(yet表否定)，因此as yet所出现的句子中一般都包含否定或否定词。如No breakthroughs have been made in this area as yet.第③句的unproven则是包含否定意义的词。而so far则没有这种否定的限制。
subtract表示从...当中去除subtract sth from sth。也可以替换成remove。
generous在这里并不是慷慨的，而是量多的(a generous amount is larger than is usual or necessary)。如a generous pay increase大幅涨薪。文中的generous指的就是对于能从大气中抽取的二氧化碳的数量的假设过于乐观。
The more generous such assumptions are, the less emissions need to be cut.
这是一个the more...the more...比较状从。在从句中，the more generous作句子的表语，而the less emission直接就是句子主语。将两句话单独成句就是：
Such assumptions are more generous. Less emissions need to be cut.
⑤The other is that, because they ignore the impact of trade, such targets typically undercount the emissions for which rich countries are responsible. ⑥Countries and cities tackling climate change need to make their assumptions more transparent and take a more holistic view of their carbon footprint.
第⑤句为了避免重复使用上文用过的these targets，改成了such targets。
undercount来源于动词count，表示将...算少了。其实就是低估：underestimate。
tackle在女王演讲那篇精读当中刚讲过，这里又出现了。表示应对/处理还可以用address/deal with。读一读英国女王的议会演讲
holistic[həʊˈlɪstɪk](thinking about the whole of something, and not just dealing with particular aspects)整体的。常与approach搭配，如a holistic approach to life全面对待生活的方式。
take a +adj+view of sth表示怎样看待某事。take a more holistic view of their carbon footprint就是更全面地看待其碳排放量。也可以改写为take a more holistic approach to their carbon footprint。再比如We should take a positive view of/approach to hardships in life.我们应该积极地看待生活中的苦难。
footprint(the amount of land, energy, water etc that a person or organization uses in order to exist or operate)能源/资源使用量。carbon footprint指的就是碳排放量。非常地道的一个表达。如Government should urge both businesses and individuals to reduce their carbon footprint.
The other is that, because they ignore the impact of trade, such targets typically undercount the emissions for which rich countries are responsible.
在这句话中，for which rich countries are responsible引导的定从修饰emissions。emission在这里是可数名词，表示排放的气体，emissions for which rich countries are responsible就是发达国家的碳排放量。介词for与responsible搭配。
emission也可以表示排放的行为，此时是不可数名词，如the emission of greenhouse gases。
后半句话也可以改写为such targets typically undercount the greenhouse gases emitted by rich countries.
参考译文
这些目标也存在两个弊端。其中一个就是“净”这个词。零净排放意味着向大气中排放多少二氧化碳，就得从中去掉多少二氧化碳。而要做到这一点，则需要对从大气中抽除碳的未经证实的方法做出设想。这类假设的数值越大，则需要减少的碳排放量就越少。另一个弊端就是，因为这些目标忽略了贸易的影响，所以这类目标通常会低估发达国家造成的碳排放。应对气候变化的国家和城市需要使他们的假设更加透明化，并且更加全面地看待其碳排放量。
如果你读完这篇文章后有所收获，就帮我点个“在看”吧，感谢阅读！