Plastic pollution: Green light for 'historic' treaty “歷史性” 協商應對塑料污染

世界多國將制定一項旨在解決塑料污染問題的國際條約。近200個國傢同意就這份協議展開磋商，以采取行動，應對 “塑料危機”。

There’s growing concern that discarded plastic is destroying habitats, harming wildlife and contaminating the food chain. And because the problem spans international boundaries, a global solution is required.

人們越來越擔心廢棄塑料正在破壞棲息地、危害野生動植物健康、污染食物鏈。因為這個問題跨越國界，所以需要一個全球性的解決方案。

In what’s being seen as a landmark decision, the United Nations is moving forward with plans to bring in a legally binding international treaty that targets plastic at all stages of use, not just clearing up bottles and straws in the oceans, but addressing the design, production and recycling of all plastic products.

聯合國作出一個被視為裡程碑的決定，將推進計劃，引入一項具有法律約束力的國際條約，目的是針對塑料的各個使用階段進行規劃，不隻是清理海洋中的塑料瓶和吸管，還涉及所有塑料產品的設計、生產和回收利用。

Environment groups say the resolution paves the way for a cleaner, safer future for people and the planet. But turning off the plastic tap won’t be easy – at the current rate of production, there’ll be an estimated 1.3 billion tonnes of plastic on the planet by 2040.

環保組織表示，該決議為人類和地球創造一個更清潔、更安全的未來鋪平瞭道路。但停止塑料生產並非易事，按照目前的生產速度，到2040年，估計地球上將有13億噸塑料。

詞匯表

discarded 被丟棄的
contaminating 污染
landmark 有裡程碑意義的；裡程碑
legally binding 有法律約束力的
targets 針對
paves the way 為…鋪平道路

閱讀理解：請在讀完上文後，回答下列問題。

1. Why is a global solution required to tackle plastic pollution?

2. What stages of the plastic pollution problem will the UN’s legally binding international treaty try to tackle?

3. How much plastic waste is it estimated there will be on the planet by 2040?

4. Who thinks this treaty will be better for people and the planet?

答案

1. Why is a global solution required to tackle plastic pollution?
Because the plastic pollution problem spans international boundaries – it affects all countries.

2. What stages of the plastic pollution problem will the UN’s legally binding international treaty try to tackle?
The UN treaty aims to target plastic at all stages of use.

3. How much plastic waste is it estimated there will be on the planet by 2040?
At the current rate of production there’ll be an estimated 1.3 billion tonnes of plastic on the planet by 2040.

4. Who thinks this treaty will be better for people and the planet?
Environment groups say the resolution will be better for people and the planet.