The UK government has promised to cut the country's greenhouse gas emissions（排放）by at least 68% by 2030 compared with 1990 levels, marking a significant increase from its current goal.
The new goal comes nine days ahead of the UK hosting a “climate action summit（峰会）” to encourage other countries to declare tougher climate plans, known as Nationally Determined Contributions（NDCs）, under the Paris Agreement. Current NDCs will raise temperatures by 3℃. And stronger plans are needed to meet the Paris deal's goal of limiting global warming to 1.5℃.
“This is the most significant NDCs announcement so far from any major economy,” said Richard Black at the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit, a UK-based think tank, in a statement.
The new goal is exactly in line with what the government's official climate adviser, the Climate Change Committee, called for in a letter published earlier today. The group said 68% would be “world-leading” compared with existing plans of governments.
The UK had previously promised a 53% cut in emissions as part of a joint（共同的）effort with the rest of the European Union, but the UK is determined to produce a new NDCs. Separately, the UK had also promised a 57% cut by 2032 domestically.
It is clear that far more action will be needed if the UK is to meet the new goal. The government's own analysis last week showed that recent major methods, such as banning new oil-fueled car sales by 2030, had failed to do enough to put the UK on track even for the old goal of 57% by 2032. The new goal obviously widens that gap further.
【小题1】Why did the UK declare its new goal before "climate action summit”?| A．To show its former plans are based on facts. |
| B．To blame other countries for their low goals. |
| C．To call on other countries to take bigger steps. |
| D．To take the lead in controlling greenhouse gas emissions. |
| A．15%. | B．68%. | C．57%. | D．53%. |
| A．Opposed. | B．Subjective. |
| C．Indifferent. | D．Doubtful. |
| A．A new goal will be put forward on “climate action summit”. |
| B．UK came up with a common goal under the Paris Agreement. |
| C．UK's recent major policies are far from its pre-determined goal. |
| D．UK sets an ambitious climate goal of 68% emissions cut by 2030. |
