The climate problem is the unintended consequence of our success. We depend on fossil energy to keep our homes warm in the winter, cool in the summer, and lit at night; we use it to travel across town and across continents. Energy is a fundamental reason for the prosperity we enjoy, and we will not surrender this prosperity. The United States has 3 percent of the world population, and yet, we consume 25 percent of the energy. By contrast, there are 1.6 billion people who don’t have access to electricity. Hundreds of millions of people still cook with twigs or dung. The life we enjoy may not be within the reach of the developing world, but it is within sight, and they want what we have.
氣候問(wèn)題是我們的經(jīng)濟(jì)發(fā)展在無(wú)意中帶來(lái)的后果。我們太依賴(lài)化石能源，冬天取暖，夏天制冷，夜間照明，長(zhǎng)途旅行，環(huán)球觀光。能源是經(jīng)濟(jì)繁榮的基礎(chǔ)，我們不可能放棄經(jīng)濟(jì)繁榮。美國(guó)人口占全世界的3%，但是我們消耗全世界25%的能源。與此形成對(duì)照，全世界還有16億人沒(méi)有電，數(shù)億人依靠燃燒樹(shù)枝和動(dòng)物糞便來(lái)煮飯。發(fā)展中國(guó)家的人民享受不到我們的生活，但是他們都看在眼里，他們渴望擁有我們擁有的東西。
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(zhàn)。全世界作為一個(gè)整體，我們到底愿意付出多少，來(lái)緩和氣候變化？這種變化在100年前，根本沒(méi)人想到過(guò)。代際責(zé)任深深植根于所有文化中。家長(zhǎng)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(gè)世界，但是我們的天性使得我們只關(guān)心個(gè)人家庭的福利。我們能不能把全世界看作一個(gè)整體？能不能為未來(lái)的人們承擔(dān)起責(zé)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(yōu)心忡忡，但是還是對(duì)未來(lái)抱樂(lè)觀態(tài)度，這個(gè)問(wèn)題將會(huì)得到解決。我同意出任勞倫斯·伯克利國(guó)家實(shí)驗(yàn)室主任，部分原因是我想招募一些世界上的科學(xué)家，來(lái)研究氣候變化的對(duì)策。我在那里干了4年半，是這個(gè)實(shí)驗(yàn)室78年的歷史中，任期最短的主任，但是當(dāng)我離任時(shí)，在伯克利實(shí)驗(yàn)室和伯克利分校，一些非常激動(dòng)人心的能源研究機(jī)構(gòu)已經(jīng)建立起來(lái)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(tuán)隊(duì)的一員，我感到極其榮幸。如果有一個(gè)時(shí)機(jī)，可以引導(dǎo)美國(guó)和全世界走上可持續(xù)能源的道路，那么這個(gè)時(shí)機(jī)就是現(xiàn)在。總統(tǒng)已經(jīng)發(fā)出信息，未來(lái)并非在劫難逃，而是樂(lè)觀的，我們依然有機(jī)會(huì)。我也抱有這種樂(lè)觀主義。我們面前的任務(wù)令人生畏，但是我們能夠并且將會(huì)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(jīng)有了一些答案，可以立竿見(jiàn)影地節(jié)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(jīng)成熟掉在地上了，就看我們?cè)覆辉敢鈸炱饋?lái)。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(nèi)就可以收回來(lái)。樓宇的耗電占我們能源消費(fèi)的40%，節(jié)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(guó)這座巨大的創(chuàng)新機(jī)器，這將是下一次美國(guó)大繁榮的基礎(chǔ)。我們將大量投資有效利用太陽(yáng)能、風(fēng)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(jìn)的生物燃料和電力汽車(chē)將使得我們不再那么依賴(lài)外國(guó)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(lái)的幾十年中，我們幾乎肯定會(huì)面對(duì)更高的油價(jià)和更嚴(yán)厲的二氧化碳排放政策。這是一場(chǎng)新的工業(yè)革命，美國(guó)有機(jī)會(huì)充當(dāng)。偉大的冰球選手Wayne Gretzky被問(wèn)到，他如何在冰上跑位，回答說(shuō)：“我滑向球下一步的位置，而不是它現(xiàn)在的位置?！泵绹?guó)也應(yīng)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(guó)的繁榮和可持續(xù)能源，打下新的基礎(chǔ)。但是我們還有很多不知道的地方。這就需要你們的參與。在本次演講中，我請(qǐng)求在座各位哈佛畢業(yè)生加入我們。你們是我們未來(lái)的智力領(lǐng)袖，請(qǐng)花時(shí)間加深理解目前的危險(xiǎn)局勢(shì)，然后采取相應(yīng)的行動(dòng)。你們是未來(lái)的科學(xué)家和工程師，我要求你們給我們更好的技術(shù)方案。你們是未來(lái)的經(jīng)濟(jì)學(xué)家和政治學(xué)家，我要求你們創(chuàng)造更好的政策選擇。你們是未來(lái)的企業(yè)家，我要求你們將可持續(xù)發(fā)展作為你們業(yè)務(wù)中不可分割的一部分。
Finally, as humanists, I ask that you speak to our common humanity. One of the cruelest ironies about climate change is that the ones who will be hurt the most are the most innocent: the worlds poorest and those yet to be born.
最后，你們是人道主義者，我要求你們?yōu)榱巳说乐髁x說(shuō)話(huà)。氣候變化帶來(lái)的最殘酷的諷刺之一，就是傷害的人，恰恰就是最無(wú)辜的人——那些世界上最窮的人們和那些還沒(méi)有出生的人。
The coda to this last movement is borrowed from two humanists.
這個(gè)最后樂(lè)章的完結(jié)部是引用兩個(gè)人道主義者的話(huà)。
The first quote is from Martin Luther King. He spoke on ending the war in Vietnam in 1967, but his message seems so fitting for today’s climate crisis:
第一段引語(yǔ)來(lái)自馬丁·路德·金。這是1967年他對(duì)越南戰(zhàn)爭(zhēng)結(jié)束的評(píng)論，但是看上去非常適合用來(lái)評(píng)論今天的氣候危機(jī)。
“This call for a worldwide fellowship that lifts neighborly concern beyond one's tribe, race, class, and nation is in reality a call for an all-embracing and unconditional love for all mankind. This oft misunderstood, this oft misinterpreted concept, so readily dismissed by the Nietzsches of the world as a weak and cowardly force, has now become an absolute necessity for the survival of man … We are now faced with the fact, my friends, that tomorrow is today. We are confronted with the fierce urgency of now. In this unfolding conundrum of life and history, there is such a thing as being too late.”
“我呼吁全世界的人們團(tuán)結(jié)一心，拋棄種族、膚色、階級(jí)、國(guó)籍的隔閡；我呼吁包羅一切、無(wú)條件的對(duì)全人類(lèi)的愛(ài)。你會(huì)因此遭受誤解和誤讀，信奉尼采哲學(xué)的世人會(huì)認(rèn)定你是一個(gè)軟弱和膽怯的懦夫。但是，這是人類(lèi)存在下去的絕對(duì)必需?！业呐笥?，眼前的事實(shí)就是，明天就是今天。此刻，我們面臨最緊急的情況。在變幻莫測(cè)的生活和歷史之中，有一樣?xùn)|西叫做悔之晚矣。”
The final message is from William Faulkner. On December 10th, 1950, his Nobel Prize banquet speech was about the role of humanists in a world facing potential nuclear holocaust.
第二段引語(yǔ)來(lái)自威廉·?？思{。1950年12月10月，他在諾貝爾獎(jiǎng)獲獎(jiǎng)晚宴上發(fā)表演說(shuō)，談到了世界在核戰(zhàn)爭(zhēng)的陰影之下，人道主義者應(yīng)該扮演什么樣的角色。
“I believe that man will not merely endure: he will prevail. He is immortal, not because he alone among creatures has an inexhaustible voice, but because he has a soul, a spirit capable of compassion and sacrifice and endurance. The poet's, the writer's, duty is to write about these things. It is his privilege to help man endure by lifting his heart, by reminding him of the courage and honor and hope and pride and compassion and pity and sacrifice whih have been the glory of his past.”
“我相信人類(lèi)不會(huì)僅僅存在，他還將勝利。人類(lèi)是不朽的，這不是因?yàn)槿f(wàn)物當(dāng)中僅僅他擁有發(fā)言權(quán)，而是因?yàn)樗幸粋€(gè)靈魂，一種有同情心、犧牲精神和忍耐力的精神。詩(shī)人、作家的責(zé)任就是書(shū)寫(xiě)這種精神。他們有權(quán)力升華人類(lèi)的心靈，使人類(lèi)回憶起過(guò)去曾經(jīng)使他無(wú)比光榮的東西——勇氣、榮譽(yù)、希望、自尊、同情、憐憫和犧牲?！?BR> Graduates, you have an extraordinary role to play in our future. As you pursue your private passions, I hope you will also develop a passion and a voice to help the world in ways both large and small. Nothing will give you greater satisfaction.
各位同學(xué)，你們?cè)谖覀兊奈磥?lái)中扮演舉足輕重的角色。當(dāng)你們追求個(gè)人的志向時(shí)，我希望你們也會(huì)發(fā)揚(yáng)奉獻(xiàn)精神，積極發(fā)聲，在大大小小各個(gè)方面幫助改進(jìn)這個(gè)世界。這會(huì)給你們帶來(lái)的滿(mǎn)足感。
Please accept my warmest congratulations. May you prosper, may you help preserve and save our planet for your children, and all future children of the world.
最后，請(qǐng)接受我最熱烈的祝賀。希望你們成功，也希望你們保護(hù)和拯救我們這個(gè)星球，為了你們的孩子，以及未來(lái)所有的孩子。
進(jìn)行這篇口譯訓(xùn)練材料的實(shí)戰(zhàn)訓(xùn)練，go！