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Not so long ago, humanity stood on the brink of a self-inflicted catastrophe. Our use of ozone-depleting substances such as chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) had torn a hole in the ozone layer that protects us from the sun's harmful ultraviolet radiation.
不久前,人类站在自酿的灾难边缘。我们使用的氯氟化碳等臭氧消耗物质将保护我们免受有害的太阳紫外线辐射的臭氧层撕裂出一个空洞。
But we tackled this challenge. Thirty years ago, the international community signed the Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer. Under its Montreal Protocol, the world united to slash the production and consumption of CFCs and other ozone-depleting substances.
但我们解决了这一挑战。30年前,国际社会签署了《保护臭氧层维也纳公约》。根据该公约的《蒙特利尔议定书》,全世界团结起来减少了氯氟化碳和其他臭氧消耗物质的生产和消费。
Together, we have succeeded in putting the stratospheric ozone layer on the road to recovery by the middle of this century. As a result, up to 2 million cases of skin cancer may be prevented each year, along with even more avoided cases of eye cataracts.
我们齐心协力地在本世纪中叶前成功将平流层臭氧层送上了恢复之路。这一成果每年可减少多达200万起皮肤癌病例,而避免的眼科白内障病例数量更多。
As we look forward to the adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and the effort by governments later this year in Paris to forge a new, collective path forward on climate change, the Montreal Protocol's success should inspire us. It shows what we are capable of when nations act together on a global challenge.
在我们对通过2030年可持续发展议程充满期待,并期许各国政府在今年晚些时候的巴黎努力确定气候变化的新的集体前进道路之际,《蒙特利尔议定书》的成功应使我们感到鼓舞。它表明当各国就一项全球挑战采取共同行动时,我们无所不能。
But the work of the Montreal Protocol is not yet done. Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) have been used as replacements for many ozone-depleting substances. While they do not deplete the ozone layer, they are extremely potent greenhouse gases and will contribute a great deal of warming to our already overheated planet in the coming decades unless we act now.
但《蒙特利尔议定书》的工作尚未完成。氟烷已被用作许多臭氧消耗物质的替代品。虽然氯烷不消耗臭氧层,但它们是极其强效的温室气体,会使已经过热的地球在未来几十年里大幅升温,除非我们现在行动。
Many countries are now considering using the Montreal Protocol regime to phase down HFCs. A political commitment to managing HFCs under the Montreal Protocol could be one of the biggest climate change wins in the lead-up to the Paris climate conference. It will also be another strong victory for multilateral efforts to safeguard our environment. On this International Day, let us ensure that we protect our climate the way we have preserved the ozone layer.
许多国家现正考虑利用《蒙特利尔议定书》制度来逐步减少氯烷。根据《蒙特利尔议定书》作出管理氯烷的政治承诺可成为巴黎气候会议前在气候变化方面的最大成绩之一。它还将是保护环境的多边努力取得的另一项重大胜利。值此国际日之际,让我们确保以保护臭氧层的方式保护气候。
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