Burning fossil fuels is having a measurable impact on the earth’s temperature. But reducing carbon emissions has proved impossible, because such a commitment could constrain GDP growth (anathema to developed countries mired in economic malaise) and impede access to energy and electricity for billions of people in developing countries, which is unacceptable to China and India.
就拿气候变化来说吧。燃烧化石燃料对地球温度产生影响是可测量的。但减少碳排放却难于上青天，因为这方面的承诺会制约GDP增长（对于深陷经济困境的发达国家来说，这不啻于诅咒），也阻碍了发展中国家数十亿人获得能源和电力，中国和印度无法接受这一点。