每日口說挑戰【CNN10】COP26聯合國氣候峰會 / 美國州長選舉民意風向 / CNN年度10大英雄人物

[transcript]

The COP26: UN Climate Change Conference

First of all, I have to say that COP26 is not a badge number, and it has nothing to do with the police. The COP stands for Conference of the Parties, a gathering of members of the United Nations, and the 26 is because this is the 26th year that the global climate summit has been held. Carbon dioxide emission is definitely one of the most important topics on the agenda. Most scientists say these emissions are harming the global environment by causing Earth's average temperatures to heat up. A smaller group of scientists say climate change happens naturally and that the Earth can absorb human carbon emissions. However, the goal of these UN summits is for member countries to lay out new plans to reduce their emissions of carbon dioxide.

During COP21 in 2015 that was held in France, the Paris Agreement entered into force which requested member countries to be committed to reduce their carbon emissions by certain amounts, which could include relying less on coal for energy and more on renewable forms like solar or wind power. Nevertheless, the COP21 commitments were not legally binding, meaning there was no penalty if nations failed to meet them, so during this year’s COP 26, the UN is pushing for even greater efforts to reduce carbon emissions.

The Bellwether Elections

The word “gubernatorial” means relating to a governor. And the two gubernatorial election races that had just taken place are the ones in New Jersey and Virginia. While most gubernatorial races don't get the amount of national attention that presidential elections do, these two, in particular, are closely watched as types of forecasts about how America's two main political parties are competing. You may have heard these races referred to as "bellwether elections". The term "bellwether" refers to something that's a predictor for or resembles a larger phenomenon. You can think of a bellwether as a leader, or to put it in the context of 2021, an influencer.

These gubernatorial races can provide a glimpse into how the country is feeling one year after a general election season and can predict trends for how the country may act one year moving forward during the midterm elections. And now the results are confirmed with Republicans winning Virginia and the Democrats successfully defending New Jersey. Although the result isn't a direct indication of what will happen across the country moving forward, it can give a sense of how America is feeling in the off-year.

CNN Top 10 Heroes of 2021

Folks, if you’ve been following CNN10 throughout this year, then you’d definitely be familiar with some of this year’s CNN top 10 heroes. In fact, if you could remember back in March (2021), we introduced the “Eye to Eye” Organization for Learning Disability. And in April (2021), there was a news coverage of “Heroes of Nigeria” that’s about a foundation in Nigeria dedicated to saving orphans from Islamic Militants. These are people being recognized for their extraordinary efforts to improve others' lives. Now, you get the chance to vote for the CNN Hero of the Year, the winner receives $100,000 in support of their great work. Check out today’s CNN10 video for more information.

[Sentence of the day]

The COP 21 commitments were not legally binding, meaning there was no penalty if nations failed to meet them.

[Vocabulary words]

1. commitment
A willingness to give a promise or firm decision to do something.

e.g. The boss thanked his staff for having shown such commitment.
老闆對全體員工作出的巨大奉獻表示感謝。

2. binding
Something powerful that cannot be legally avoided or stopped.

e.g. The contract wasn't legally binding.
這份合約在法律上沒有約束力。


3. penalty
a punishment usually for breaking the law.

e.g. The legislators asked for the maximum penalty for spreading fake news to be increased to one year.
立委要求把散布假新聞的最高懲罰增至一年監禁。


Alright, that’s all we have time for today.
President Biden was caught dozing off in COP26.
Some say that he was simply meditating deeply.
I say that he was demonstrating the best way for humans to reduce carbon emissions.
What do you think? Leave a comment down below.
This is Ken Miao and I’ll see you again next time!

The COP21 commitments were not legally binding, meaning there was no penalty if nations failed to meet them.
各國在第 21 屆締約國會議上立定的承諾不具有法律約束力，換句話說，就算有關國家無法履行他們的承諾，也不會遭到任何的處罰。

The COP 21(第21屆聯合國氣候變遷大會) commitments(/kəˈmɪt.mənt/承諾n.) were not legally(/ˈliː.ɡəl.i/依法adv.) binding(bind/baɪnd/約束v.), meaning there was no penalty(/ˈpen.əl.ti/處罰n.) if nations(國家) failed(未能做到v.) to meet(符合v.) them.
聯合國會員國在第 21屆聯合國氣候變遷大會上所做出的承諾不具有法律約束力，也就是說，就算無法履行承諾也不會遭到任何的處罰。

【The COP 26: UN Climate Change(氣候變遷) Conference(會議)】First of all, I have to say that COP 26 is not a badge(/bædʒ/徽章) number, and it has nothing to do with the police. The COP *stands for(代表) Conference of the Parties, a gathering of members of the United Nations, and the 26 is because this is the 26th year that the global climate summit(/ˈsʌm.ɪt/高峰會) has been held. Carbon dioxide emission(二氧化碳排放) is definitely one of the most important topics on the agenda(/əˈdʒen.də/議程). Most scientists say these emissions are harming the global environment by causing Earth's average(平均n.) temperatures to heat up. A smaller group of scientists say climate change happens naturally and that the Earth can absorb(/əbˈzɔːrb/吸收v.) human carbon emissions. However, the goal of these UN summits is for member countries to *lay out(計畫) new plans to reduce their emissions of carbon dioxide. During COP 21 in 2015 that was held in France, the Paris Agreement(巴黎協定) *entered into(開始討論或協定) force(強制n.) which requested member countries to be committed(承諾) to reduce their carbon emissions by certain amounts, which could include relying(依賴) less on coal(燃煤) for energy and more on renewable(可再生的) forms(形式n.) like solar or wind power(太陽能或風力發電). Nevertheless(然而adv.), the COP 21 commitments were not legally binding, meaning there was no penalty if nations failed to meet them, so during this year’s COP 26, the UN is pushing for even greater efforts to reduce carbon emissions.

【The Bellwether(/ˈbelˌwe.ðɚ/領頭者,前導n.) Elections(選舉)】The word “gubernatorial(/ˌɡuː.bɚ.nəˈtɔːr.i.əl/州長的)” means relating to a governor(州長,管轄者). And the two gubernatorial election races(競選) that had just taken place(舉行) are the ones in New Jersey and Virginia. While most gubernatorial races don't get the amount of national attention(注意力) that presidential(總統的) elections do, these two, in particular, are closely watched as types of forecasts(預測n.) about how America's two main political parties(政黨) are competing(競賽v.). You may have heard these races referred to as "bellwether elections". The term "bellwether" refers to something that's a predictor(預言) for or resembles(與…相似) a larger phenomenon(現象). You can think of a bellwether as a leader, or to put it in the context(處境) of 2021, an influencer(對他人有影響力的人). These gubernatorial races can provide a glimpse(一瞥) into how the country is feeling one year after a general election season and can predict(預測v.) trends(風向n.) for how the country may act one year moving forward during the midterm elections(期中選舉). And now the results are confirmed with Republicans winning Virginia and the Democrats successfully defending New Jersey. Although the result isn't a direct indication(指引n.) of what will happen across the country moving forward, it can give a sense of how America is feeling in the off-year(非大選年).

☺The COP21 commitments were not legally binding, meaning there was no penalty if nations failed to meet them.
各國在第 21 屆締約國會議上立定的承諾不具有法律約束力，也就是說，就算這些國家無法履行他們的承諾，也不會遭到任何的處罰。
【心得】很多承諾都沒有保證一定會履行。
■commitment [kəˋmɪtmənt] (n.C or U) 忠誠；投入；奉獻、信奉[(+to)]；承諾、保證、諾言、承擔的義務[(+to)]；犯罪、罪行
(n.C)必須做(或處理)的事情
(n.U)託付、交託；委任；收監、入獄；關進精神病院
■binding [ˈbaɪndɪŋ] (adj.) (尤指協議)必須遵守的、有約束力的[(+on/upon)]；捆綁的；黏合的
(n.C)(滑雪板上的)皮靴固定裝置黏合劑；稠合物
(n.C or U)(書籍的)封皮裝訂
(n.U)鑲邊、滾邊捆綁；束縛
■penalty [ˋpɛn!tɪ](n.C or U.)處罰、刑罰[(+for)]
(n.C)罰款[(+for)]；{運動比賽}犯規的處罰、罰球；(某種情況或行為等導致的)不利結果、損失[(+of/for)]

The COP21 commitments were not legally binding, meaning there was no penalty if nations failed to meet them.

這個速度真的是厲害了