Sustainable development hinges on fate of world’s cities
可持续发展取决于世界城市的命运
The future of sustainable development will hinge on the fate of cities, officials told a special meeting of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) on Thursday, stressing that the more than half of the world’s population currently live in urban environments, a number likely to rise to nearly 70 per cent by 2050.
几位联合国高级官员周四在联合国经济及社会理事会的一次特别会议上表示，可持续发展的未来将取决于城市的命运。他们强调，目前全球一半以上的人口生活在城市环境中，到2050年，这一数字可能会升至近70%。
hinge on 取决于，依靠
“The actions we take now must lead us to…a new social integration based on the principles of prosperity, transformation, adaptation, equity and respect for human rights,” said Martha Delgado, President of the UN-Habitat Assembly.
联合国人居署大会主席玛尔塔·德尔加多·佩拉尔塔表示:“我们现在采取的行动必须引导我们……在繁荣、变革、适应、平等和尊重人权的原则基础上，实现新的社会融合。”
Highlighting urbanization as one of today’s great megatrends, she joined others in calling for resilient, sustainable “smart cities” that are more inclusively governed and better prepared to navigate future shocks and crises.
她强调城市化是当今的大趋势之一，并与其他人一道呼吁建设具有复原力的、可持续的“智能城市”,这些城市的治理更具包容性，能够更好地应对未来的冲击和危机。
megatrend [ˈmegəˌtrend] n. （社会变化的）大趋势，大潮流
navigate [ˈnævɪgeɪt] v. 航行，导航；穿过，绕过
New Urban Agenda
新城市议程
Thursday’s special meeting on Sustainable Urbanization and the Implementation of the New Urban Agenda will complement a similar High-Level meeting of the General Assembly, on 28 April.
星期四关于可持续城市化和执行新城市议程的特别会议将为4月28日大会的一次类似高级别会议提供补充。
Both sessions are designed to explore how the UN system can better support countries in implementing the New Urban Agenda – a landmark plan for the world’s urban spaces, which was adopted in 2016 at the UN Conference on Housing and Sustainable Urban Development.
这两场会议旨在探讨联合国系统如何更好地支持各国实施新城市议程——这是2016年联合国住房和可持续城市发展会议通过的一个关于世界城市空间的里程碑式的计划。
The Agenda put forward standards and commitments for the planning, construction, development, management and improvement of urban areas.
该议程为城市地区的规划、建设、发展、管理和改善提出了标准和承诺。
It also articulated a shared vision for cities as just, safe, healthy, accessible and affordable places where all inhabitants are able to live without discrimination.
它还阐明了一个共同愿景，即城市是一个公正、安全、健康、无障碍和负担得起的地方，所有居民都应能够不受歧视地生活。
articulate [ɑːˈtɪkjuleɪt] v. 明确表达，清楚说明 adj. 善于表达的，口齿清楚的
COVID-19 disparities
新冠疫情相关差异
Opening Thursday’s meeting, ECOSOC President Collen Vixen Kelapile urged participants to examine urban issues through the lens of inequality, especially given the stark disparities illustrated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
在周四的会议开幕式上，经社理事会主席科伦·维克森·凯拉皮尔敦促与会者通过不平等的这一角度来审视城市问题，特别是考虑到新冠疫情所展示的巨大差异。
stark [stɑːk] adj. 明显的；完全的；荒凉的；严酷的
disparity [dɪˈspærəti] n. 明显差异
“Sustainable development will hinge on how we manage urbanization,” he said, adding that current discussions should be framed in the context of responding to COVID-19 response and the climate crisis.
他说，“可持续发展将取决于我们如何管理城市化。”他并补充说，当前的讨论应在应对新冠应对措施和气候危机的背景下进行。
Noting that 1.2 billion people in the global South currently live in informal settlements and slums, Mr. Kelapile reminded that they have long struggled to prevent disease transmissions, now including COVID-19.
凯拉皮尔指出，全球南方目前有12亿人生活在非正规住区和贫民窟。他提醒说，他们长期以来一直在努力防止疾病传播，现在也包括新冠疾病。
slum [slʌm] n. 贫民窟
Meanwhile, in the global North, dependence on welfare, where available, increased manifold during the pandemic and many people entered the ranks of the homeless.
与此同时，在全球北方，对福利的依赖在疫情期间成倍增加，许多人进入了无家可归者的行列。
In response, cities have deployed creative actions and provided services in underserved areas, while new urban models are beginning to pay more attention to pedestrians and mixed land uses.
作为回应，城市在服务不足的地区部署了创造性的行动并提供服务，而新的城市模式开始更加关注行人和混合土地的使用。
pedestrian [pəˈdestriən] n. 行人
Reclamation, inclusivity, greening
开垦、包容、绿化
UN-Habitat chief Maimunah Mohd Sharif agreed that the world’s cities have been absorbing much of COVID’ s socioeconomic impact.
联合国人居署负责人迈穆娜·穆赫德·谢里夫同意世界上的城市已经吸收了新冠疫情带来的大部分社会经济影响。
However, that has often resulted in closer cooperation between national and local governments, which, in turn, has led to greater reclamation, greening and inclusive use of public space.
这往往导致国家和地方政府之间更密切的合作，反过来又导致公共空间更大程度的开垦、绿化和的包容性使用。
reclamation [ˌrekləˈmeɪʃn] n. （对土地的）开垦，开拓；（对废品的）回收利用
She said: “We can provide basic services in a more equitable manner, reduce commuting through tele-work and reduce carbon emissions by prudent use of energy.”
她表示:“我们可以以更公平的方式提供基本服务，通过远程办公减少通勤，并通过谨慎使用能源减少碳排放。”
commute [kəˈmjuːt] v. 通勤，上下班往返
Upgrading slums and addressing the housing affordability crisis remain the highest priorities for countries.
改造贫民窟和解决住房负担能力危机仍然是各国的最高优先事项。
Meanwhile, as cities have been forced to augment emergency social spending during the pandemic, she warned that Agenda implementation continues to be impeded by inadequate financing, further crippled by dramatic expenditure reductions.
与此同时，疫情期间各城市被迫增加紧急社会支出。她警告说，议程的实施继续受到资金不足的阻碍，并因支出大幅削减而进一步削弱。
augment [ɔːgˈment] v. 增加，增大，加强
cripple [ˈkrɪp(ə)l] v. 严重损坏，严重削弱；使残疾
COVID-19 demonstrated that real value comes from providing affordable service, rather than extracting profit, she added.
她补充说，新冠疫情证明了真正的价值来自提供负担得起的服务，而不是榨取利润。
Accelerating progress
加速进步
“Achieving the New Urban Agenda’s goals will accelerate our progress on human welfare and security globally,” said General Assembly President Abdulla Shahid.
联合国大会主席阿卜杜拉·沙希德说。“实现新城市议程的目标将加快我们在全球人类福利和安全方面的进展。”
He joined other speakers in emphasizing that, when properly managed, cities are among humanity’s most sustainable living environments.
他和其他发言者一样强调，如果管理得当，城市是人类最可持续的生活环境之一。
On the climate front, adhering to the Agenda will help keep alive the goal of limiting planetary warming to 1.5°C.
在气候方面，坚持议程将有助于保持将全球变暖限制在1.5摄氏度的目标。
planetary [ˈplænətri] adj. 行星的，地球的
Cities ‘connect the dots’
城市“点连成线”
Echoing those points, Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed said the Agenda also includes measures to secure land tenure, promote affordable housing, enhance mobility and provide services that are accessible to all.
联合国常务副秘书长阿明娜·穆罕默德表示，议程还包括确保土地保有权、促进经济适用房、提高流动性和提供所有人都能获得的服务等措施。
tenure [ˈtenjə(r)] n. 使用权，保有权；任期；终身职位
“Cities can spearhead innovations to bridge the inequalities gaps, deliver climate action and ensure a green and inclusive COVID-19 recovery,” she said.
她说：“城市可以引领创新，弥合不平等差距，采取气候行动，确保绿色和包容性的新冠复苏。”
spearhead [ˈspɪəhed] v. 领导，引领 n. 先锋，矛头
The deputy UN chief added that urban spaces “connect the dots” on many of today’s global challenges.
她补充说，城市空间在当今的许多全球挑战中“将点连成一线”。
