The 23rd session of the Conference of the Parties (COP23) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) was held in Bonn, Germany, from Nov. 6 to 17.
This was the first major international climate conference since US President Donald Trump announced his intention to withdraw the US from the Paris Agreement.
On Oct. 30, prior to the opening of the conference, the World Meteorological Organization released data showing 2017, with its rapid succession of extreme weather events such as hurricanes, flooding and droughts, is to be the hottest year since records began.
Photo: AP
照片：美聯社
Two years ago, 195 countries reached an agreement in Paris, promising to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, especially carbon dioxide, and to keep the temperature increase within 1.5 degrees Celsius. The agreement, which is to come into force three years after the signing, is a milestone in the fight against global warming. To implement the provisions in the agreement, it was necessary to plan a “rule book” for how it is to be implemented. The focus of the Bonn summit was to continue negotiations on the details, including ways to implement and verify carbon reduction, its technologies and tools, and sources of funding.
Although Taiwan, which is not a member of the UN, was not allowed to participate in this summit, since Taiwan’s formal announcement in 2009 to promote meaningful participation of the UNFCCC, Taiwan has participated in COP meetings as an observer representing an NGO, the Industrial Technology Research Institute. This year, Taiwan planned to participate in COP23 in the same capacity, but due to China’s intervention, its delegation was barred from entering the venue.
(CNA, translated by Lin Lee-kai)
Photo: EPA
照片：歐新社
聯合國氣候變化綱要公約第二十三次締約方會議本月六至十七日在德國波昂舉行。
這是美國總統川普宣布退出巴黎氣候協定以來，首度舉行的大型國際氣候會議。
就在會議揭幕前不久的上月三十日，聯合國氣象組織聲明，接連的颶風、水患和乾旱等極端氣候肆虐的二○一七年，可能是有氣象紀錄以來最熱的一年。
兩年前的此刻，一九五個國家在巴黎達成協議，承諾將透過減少排放溫室氣體，尤其是二氧化碳，努力把氣溫的升幅控制在攝氏一點五度以內，堪稱是對抗全球暖化的里程碑。巴黎協定在簽署三年後就將生效，為執行巴黎協定條款，則必須規劃一套詳細具體的「規則手冊」。本次波昂高峰會議談判的重點，便是繼續談判規則手冊內容，包括如何落實和查核減碳、其技術和工具，以及資金來源等。
雖然台灣不是聯合國的成員，無法加入該會議，但台灣自二ＯＯ九年正式宣布推動有意義參與聯合國氣候變化綱要公約迄今，皆以工業技術研究院為名，以非政府組織觀察員身分參與締約方大會活動。今年會議台灣援例組團與會，卻由於中國的干涉，無法進入會場。
（中央社）
Computex, Asia’s biggest electronics conference, kicked off Monday in Taipei, and as in years past drew industry chieftains from Nvidia Corp.’s Jensen Huang and Qualcomm Inc.’s Cristiano Amon to Young Liu of Foxconn, which makes the bulk of the world’s iPhones and Nvidia servers. But while last year’s event was a celebration of the post-ChatGPT AI boom, executives this time are likely grappling with the uncertainty of the Trump administration’s effort to reshape the global trade order — disrupting a decades-old model for tech manufacturing. This year’s exhibition will of course feature the hardware required to bring artificial intelligence to life.
Dog owners often wish they could understand their pets’ thoughts. “Dog buttons” might turn their dream into a reality. These specially designed buttons, __1__ sound chips, enable dogs to communicate their needs by pressing buttons corresponding to pre-recorded words like “walk,” “play,” “outside,” and “food.” This bridges the communication __2__ between humans and their canine companions. The science behind dog buttons is based on the concept of associative learning. It’s a process __3__ learners can link actions with outcomes. For instance, if an owner consistently presses the “walk” button and then takes their dog for a walk, the dog
For many people, allergies are an all-too-familiar annoyance. The constant sneezing, itching, and watery eyes are just a few clear signs of allergies, which is a surprisingly common condition affecting millions worldwide. But what exactly triggers these reactions, and how can we cope with them? Allergies arise from a misunderstanding between our immune system and seemingly harmless substances. Under normal circumstances, the immune system acts as our body’s personal bodyguard, diligently identifying and eliminating threats like viruses and bacteria. However, in individuals with allergies, the immune system mistakenly identifies certain substances, called allergens, as invaders. This triggers a reaction, leading to
1. 眾所皆知，資訊產業是我國經濟的基礎。 ˇ As everyone admits, the IT industry is the backbone of our economy. χ As everyone admits that the IT industry is the backbone of our economy. 註：這裏 as 作關係代名詞，引導從屬子句。誤句多了 that， IT industry is. . . 就變成從屬句，欠缺了主句，結構上錯誤。又如： As my friend pointed out, necessity is the mother of invention. As is known to all, grammar is not the only important thing in language study. 2. 她心情總是非常好。 ˇ She is always in a good mood. χ She always is in a good mood. 註：always, often 一般放在行為動詞之前，連繫動詞、助動詞之後： He always behaves well. He is always happy and gay. He is always reading. 其他用法類似的副詞，還有 still、also、hardly、seldom、never 等。 3. 你看！他還在寫報告呢。 ˇ Look! He is still working
RSS