世界多國(guó)將制定一項(xiàng)旨在解決塑料污染問(wèn)題的國(guó)際條約。近 200 個(gè)國(guó)家同意就這份協(xié)議展開(kāi)磋商，以采取行動(dòng)，應(yīng)對(duì) “塑料危機(jī)”。

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?cè)絹?lái)越擔(dān)心廢棄塑料正在破壞棲息地、危害野生動(dòng)植物健康、污染食物鏈。因?yàn)檫@個(gè)問(wèn)題跨越國(guó)界，所以需要一個(gè)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(lián)合國(guó)作出一個(gè)被視為里程碑的決定，將推進(jìn)計(jì)劃，引入一項(xiàng)具有法律約束力的國(guó)際條約，目的是針對(duì)塑料的各個(gè)使用階段進(jìn)行規(guī)劃，不只是清理海洋中的塑料瓶和吸管，還涉及所有塑料產(chǎn)品的設(shè)計(jì)、生產(chǎn)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(huán)保組織表示，該決議為人類和地球創(chuàng)造一個(gè)更清潔、更安全的未來(lái)鋪平了道路。但停止塑料生產(chǎn)并非易事，按照目前的生產(chǎn)速度，到2040年，估計(jì)地球上將有13億噸塑料。

詞匯表

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

閱讀理解：請(qǐng)?jiān)谧x完上文后，回答下列問(wèn)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.