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■《巴黎協定》去年12月中達成，港府也應該響應號召，加強減排力度。 資料圖片
舉世矚目的巴黎氣候變化大會，經過長達兩周的馬拉松式協商，終於通過了《巴黎協定》。《巴黎協定》獲得全球近200個締約方一致同意，將全球平均溫度升幅與前工業化時期相比控制在2攝氏度內，並繼續努力、爭取把溫度升幅控制在1.5度內。《協定》提出，在2020年之前，發達國家每年至少要提供1,000億美元，協助發展中國家達成減排目標。
根據《聯合國氣候變化框架公約》規定的「共同但有區別的責任」等基本原則，中國是發展中國家，不具有強制減排義務。即便如此，中國近年來亦自主自願採取減排措施。協定通過後，中方承諾，將積極推動協定的實施，主動承擔與自身國情、發展階段和實際能力相符的國際義務。
中美是全球兩個最大的經濟體，也是最大的碳排放國，此次氣候大會能夠實現預期共識，中美合力推動、求同存異是關鍵原因之一。
氣候問題是全球問題，香港不可能置身事外。特區政府應根據《巴黎協定》的要求，繼續檢視及優化本地的減碳政策及行動。（文匯報社評 14-12-2015）
HK must act to cut carbon as Paris pact ordains
A historic climate accord, the Paris Agreement, was finally gaveled through after a two-week talks marathon at the Paris Climate Change Conference. Around 200 signatories unanimously signed the accord, the goal of which is to limit global temperature rise within 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, while striving to cap the increase even further to 1.5 degrees if possible. The agreement indicates a plan to give a minimum of USD 100 billion aid per year to developing countries for implementing new procedures to reach the goal, financed by developed countries.
According to the principle of "common but differentiated responsibilities" and others from the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), China, a developing country, is not obliged to reduce carbon emissions. Still she has been voluntarily acting to play her part. After the Agreement was passed, China promised to take an active role in taking her international obligations commensurate with her own national circumstances, development stage and actual capacity.
China and the US are the world's largest economies and carbon-emitters. Their combined efforts were one of the keys to reaching consensus at the climate summit.
Hong Kong will not stay out of the issue as climate change is universal. The SAR government should review and optimize the local carbon policies in accordance with the Paris accord.
Learning Point
巴黎協定臨近尾聲時，曾因草案條文字眼引發小插曲：
Developed country Parties 'shall' continue taking the lead by undertaking economy-wide absolute emission reduction targets. Developing country Parties 'should' continue enhancing their mitigation efforts, and are encouraged to move over time towards economy-wide emission reduction or limitation targets in the light of different national circumstances. (Article 4.4)
在協議文件中，shall為一較具法律拘束力的用字，比should更具義務性質。由於涉及法律義務，協定必須獲美國參議院批准。然而美國代表考慮到參議院必會否決有關協定的議案，所以堅決拒絕使用shall一詞，更指若大會不更改字眼，美國代表很可能拒絕簽署。
即使日常應用上意思看似差不多的字眼，其實意義不盡相同，可見精確選擇用字的重要。■Jeffrey Tse [ywc_jeffrey@hotmail.com]
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