IELTS Speaking Part 3: Who Is Responsible for Climate Change?

Let's move on to discuss the environment more broadly.

我們接著更廣泛地討論一下環境議題。

To what extent are individuals responsible for climate change?

個人在多大程度上該為氣候變遷負責？

Ooh, that's a meaty one. Can I start with a caveat?

哇，這個問題很有分量。我可以先說明一個前提嗎？

Of course, go ahead.

當然，請說。

I think the individual versus systemic debate is somewhat misleading.

我認為個人與體制之爭多少有些誤導。

The idea of a personal carbon footprint was popularised by an oil company.

個人碳足跡的概念是由一家石油公司推廣開來的。

Really? I wasn't aware of that.

真的嗎？我之前並不知道這件事。

Yes, and it conveniently shifted the blame onto consumers!

是的，而且還很方便地把責任推到消費者身上！

So you'd absolve individuals entirely?

所以您要完全免除個人的責任嗎？

No, not entirely. That would be a cop-out.

不，也不是完全免除。那樣是在推卸責任。

Our choices matter, but mostly in aggregate.

我們的選擇很重要，但主要是在整體加總時才有意義。

When enough people change, markets and politicians follow suit.

當夠多的人做出改變，市場和政治人物也會跟著改變。

Can you give an example of that happening?

您可以舉一個這種情況發生的例子嗎？

Well... take the shift towards plant-based diets.

嗯……就拿轉向植物性飲食的趨勢來說吧。

Ten years ago, vegan options were a niche curiosity.

十年前，純素選項還只是小眾的新奇玩意。

Now supermarkets stock entire aisles of them!

現在超市裡整條走道擺的都是這類商品！

That's a compelling illustration.

這是個很有說服力的例子。

Some argue that wealthy nations should bear most of the cost.

有人主張，富裕國家應該承擔大部分的成本。

Would you agree with that?

您同意這種說法嗎？

Um, broadly, yes,

嗯，大致上同意，

since they've been emitting for far longer.

因為它們排放的時間長得多。

It would be rather hypocritical to lecture developing countries now.

現在才去對開發中國家說教，未免有些偽善。

Are you optimistic about the future, on the whole?

整體而言，您對未來樂觀嗎？

Honestly? It depends what I've read that morning.

老實說？要看我那天早上讀了什麼。

The headlines can be genuinely alarming.

新聞標題有時真的令人憂心。

But renewable energy is getting cheaper astonishingly fast!

但再生能源正以驚人的速度變得越來越便宜！

Thank you, that brings the test to a close.

謝謝，測驗到此結束。

Oh, is that it? Thank you so much!

喔，這樣就結束了嗎？非常感謝！

You're welcome. Have a good afternoon.

不客氣。祝您有個愉快的下午。