The distinguished scientists with whom it is the greatest honor of my life to share this award have laid before us a choice between two different futures, a choice that to my ears echoes the words of an ancient prophet: "Life or death, blessings or curses. Therefore choose life that both thou and thy seed may live."
我一生中極大的榮幸就是與這些尊貴的科學家們分享諾貝爾和平獎,他們將兩種不同未來的選擇擺在了我們的面前,而這一選擇在我聽起來類似一位古老的預言家曾說過的話:“生與死,福與禍,你們要選擇生,那樣,你和你的后代將可能存活下去。”
We, the human species, are confronting a planetary emergency, a threat to the survival of our civilization that is gathering ominous and destructive potential, even as we gather here. But there is hopeful news as well: We have the ability to solve this crisis and avoid the worst, though not all, of its consequences, if we act boldly, decisively and quickly.
我們人類正面臨一場全球性的危機,威脅到人類文明的存亡。即使我們在這里相聚商討對策,這一危機仍在積聚力量——不祥的、具存毀滅性的力量。但也有一個好消息:我們有能力解決這場危機,雖然無法完全免于不幸,但可以避免出現最糟糕的情況。前提是我們能勇敢、果斷而且迅速地行動起來。
However, despite a growing number of honorable exceptions, too many of the world's leaders are still best described in the words Winston Churchill applied to those who ignored Adolf Hitler's threat and I quote: They go on in strange paradox, decided only to be undecided, resolved to be irresolute, adamant for drift, solid for fluidity, all powerful to be impotent.
然而,世界領導人中除了一小部分令人肅然起敬的例外情況之外,盡管這部分人的數目在增加,絕大部分領導人都像丘吉爾所描述的那些對阿道夫·希特勒的威脅視而不見的人那樣,此處我引用原文:“他們陷在一個矛盾的怪圈中,決定的結果是舉棋不定,毫不動搖地猶豫不決,堅定不移地隨波逐流,強大有力卻安于無能為力。”
So today we dumped another 70 million tons of global warming pollution into the thin shell of atmosphere surrounding our planet, as if it were an open sewer. And tomorrow we will dump a slightly larger amount, with the cumulative concentrations now trapping more and more heat from the sun.
所以,我們今天又將7000萬噸溫室氣體排放到大氣層中,這一層包裹著地球的薄薄的大氣層被我們當成了開放式下水道。明天,我們會排放更多。隨著大氣層中溫室氣體濃度越來越髙,越來越多的太陽熱能被截留在地球上。
As a result, the earth has a fever. And the fever is rising. The experts have told us it is not a passing affliction that will heal by itself. We asked for a second opinion. And a third. And a fourth. And the consistent conclusion, restated with increasing distress, is that something basic is wrong.
因此,地球就會“發燒而且溫度越來越高”。專家們告訴我們,這不是可以不治而愈的一時的病痛。我們問了許多不同的專家,兩批、三批、四批。但是一遍又一遍地聽到同樣的結論令我們日益沮喪——我們犯了根本性的錯誤。