評論
打印
Here is the dilemma. How much are we willing to invest, as a world society, to mitigate the consequences of climate change that will not be realized for at least 100 years? Deeply rooted in all cultures, is the notion of generational responsibility. Parents work hard so that their children will have a better life. Climate change will affect the entire world, but our natural focus is on the welfare of our immediate families. Can we, as a world society, meet our responsibility to future generations?
這就是新的挑戰。全世界作為一個整體，我們到底愿意付出多少，來緩和氣候變化？這種付出至少在100年內，都不會有明顯效果。代際責任深深植根于所有文化中。家長努力工作，為了讓他們的孩子有更好的生活。氣候變化將影響整個世界，但是我們的天性使得我們只關心個人家庭的福利。我們能不能把全世界看作一個整體？能不能為未來的人們承擔起責任？
While I am worried, I am hopeful we will solve this problem. I became the director of the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, in part because I wanted to enlist some of the best scientific minds to help battle against climate change. I was there only four and a half years, the shortest serving director in the 78-year history of the Lab, but when I left, a number of very exciting energy institutes at the Berkeley Lab and UC Berkeley had been established.
雖然我憂心忡忡，但是還是對未來抱樂觀態度，這個問題將會得到解決。我同意出任勞倫斯?伯克利國家實驗室主任，部分原因是我想招募一些世界上最好的科學家，來研究氣候變化的對策。我在那里干了4年半，是這個實驗室78年的歷史中，任期最短的主任，但是當我離任時，在伯克利實驗室和伯克利分校，一些非常激動人心的能源研究機構已經建立起來了。
I am extremely privileged to be part of the Obama administration. If there ever was a time to help steer America and the world towards a path of sustainable energy, now is the time. The message the President is delivering is not one of doom and gloom, but of optimism and opportunity. I share this optimism. The task ahead is daunting, but we can and will succeed.
能夠成為奧巴馬施政團隊的一員，我感到極其榮幸。如果有一個時機，可以引導美國和全世界走上可持續能源的道路，那么這個時機就是現在。總統已經發出信息，未來并非在劫難逃，而是樂觀的，我們依然有機會。我也抱有這種樂觀主義。我們面前的任務令人生畏，但是我們能夠并且將會成功。
We know some of the answers already. There are immediate and significant savings in energy efficiency and conservation. Energy efficiency is not just low-hanging fruit; it is fruit lying on the ground. For example, we have the potential to make buildings 80 percent more efficient with investments that will pay for themselves in less than 15 years. Buildings consume 40 percent of the energy we use, and a transition to energy efficient buildings will cut our carbon emissions by one-third.
我們已經有了一些答案，可以立竿見影地節約能源和提高能源使用效率。它們不是掛在枝頭的水果，而是已經成熟掉在地上了，就看我們愿不愿意撿起來。比如，我們有辦法將樓宇的耗電減少80%，增加的投資在15年內就可以收回來。樓宇的耗電占我們能源消費的40%，節能樓宇的推廣將使我們二氧化碳的釋放減 少三分之一。
We are revving up the remarkable American innovation machine that will be the basis of a new American prosperity. We will invent much improved methods to harness the sun, the wind, nuclear power, and capture and sequester the carbon dioxide emitted from our power plants. Advanced bio-fuels and the electrification of personal vehicles make us less dependent on foreign oil.
我們正在加速美國這座巨大的創新機器，這將是下一次美國大繁榮的基礎。我們將大量投資有效利用太陽能、風能、核能的新方法，大量投資能夠捕獲和隔離電廠廢氣中的二氧化碳的方法。先進的生物燃料和電力汽車將使得我們不再那么依賴外國的石油。
In the coming decades, we will almost certainly face higher oil prices and be in a carbon-constrained economy. We have the opportunity to lead in development of a new, industrial revolution. The great hockey player, Wayne Gretzky, when asked, how he positions himself on the ice, he replied,“ I skate to where the puck is going to be, not where it’s been.” America should do the same.
在未來的幾十年中，我們幾乎肯定會面對更高的油價和更嚴厲的二氧化碳限制排放政策。這是一場新的工業革命，美國有機會充當領導者。偉大的冰上曲棍球選手Wayne Gretzky被問到，他如何在冰上跑位，回答說：“我滑向球下一步的位置，而不是它現在的位置。”美國也應該這樣做。
The Obama administration is laying a new foundation for a prosperous and sustainable energy future, but we don’t have all of the answers. That’s where you come in. In this address, I am asking you, the Harvard graduates, to join us. As our future intellectual leaders, take the time to learn more about what’s at stake, and then act on that knowledge. As future scientists and engineers, I ask you to give us better technology solutions. As future economists and political scientists, I ask you to create better policy options. As future business leaders, I ask that you make sustainability an integral part of your business.
奧巴馬政府正在為美國的繁榮和可持續能源，打下新的基礎。但是我們無法為所有問題都找到答案。這就需要你們的參與。在本次演講中，我請求在座各位哈佛畢業生加入我們。你們是我們未來的智力領袖，請花時間加深理解目前的危險局勢，然后采取相應的行動。你們是未來的科學家和工程師，我要求你們給我們更好的技術方案。你們是未來的經濟學家和政治學家，我要求你們創造更好的政策選擇。你們是未來的企業家，我要求你們將可持續發展作為你們業務中不可分割的一部分。
