原文標題：
The Guardian view on a defeat for Heathrow』 s third runway: a welcome precedent
本文來源2020.02.27 The Guardian《衛報》The Guardian view on a defeat for Heathrow』 s third runway: a welcome precedent (《衛報》評希思羅機場第三跑道計劃的敗訴：可喜的先例)。主題：圍繞「英國法院一項最新裁決：英國政府批准的希思羅機場擴建計劃不合法」展開論述，分析裁決的法律和經濟影響，最後針對航空業的脫碳困難現狀提出建議。
脈絡:
引入英國法院最新裁決「政府擴建希思羅機場的計劃不合法」(首段) ——論述該裁決的直接影響(第二段) ——論述該裁決的深遠影響（第三段）——論述航空業的脫碳困難現狀，並提出建議(第四至六段) 。
I It’s not often that climate activists get to punch the air. News about the environment is alarming far more frequently than it is cheering.So campaigners were understandably jubilant on Thursday when the court of appeal issued its surprise ruling that the government’s plans to build a third runway at Heathrow are illegal.
II Not only does the ruling make it increasingly unlikely that the controversial project, approved by the House of Commons in June 2018, will go ahead. The judges set an extraordinary precedent. This is because they made their ruling on grounds that the policy of expanding the airport is incompatible with commitments made by the government in the Paris climate agreement. While the law says that national policy must take account of the UK’s climate commitments, the 2018 airport statement didn’t. The case has shown that with the right legislation in place, international climate agreements can have a direct bearing on domestic decision-making.
III Beyond the immediate significance of Heathrow, particularly to the west London residents who have consistently opposed it, the judgment highlights a deeper tension between economic development and climate policymaking. We are in a climate emergency. This legal ruling shows that under the law, ministers cannot default—when it suits them—to business as usual. As Lord Deben, the chair of the advisory Committee on Climate Change, put it: 「The fact is, it is the law that we have to keep our emissions down.」
IV There is probably no area in which economic and environmental imperatives are harder to reconcile than aviation. Currently responsible for around 2% of global emissions, its share is predicted to grow fast. Aviation emissions rose by 32% between 2013 and 2018, and in the UK are expected to overtake all other sources by 2050. While new batteries, sustainable fuels and new engine technology are all anticipated, the prospect of anything approaching 「green」 flying remains remote.
V That’s why the government’s official advice is that aviation should be allowed to buck the trend of decarbonisation, and to grow by up to 25% between now and 2050. But even if this is accepted—despite the risks—ministers must address the question of where this growth will take place, while working to reduce demand via new charges such as a frequent-flyer levy. While there is spare capacity in some places, airports from Aberdeen to Southampton have plans to expand passenger numbers by 59%, far beyond the official guidance. Such plans are not compatible with the UK’s climate goals.
VI Britain needs a national aviation plan to weigh the demands of different regions against each other. But nowhere must boosting air traffic be viewed as a shortcut to prosperity. In an era of climate breakdown, there is really no option other than to seek alternative routes to success.
1. punch the air 揮舞拳頭(以示喜悅)
2. alarming [əˈlɑːmɪŋ] a. 令人驚慌的；引起恐慌的
3. cheering [ˈtʃɪərɪŋ] a. 令人鼓舞的
4. campaigner [kæmˈpeɪnər] n. （尤指政治或社會）運動領導者，運動參加者
5. the court of appeal （英國）上訴法院（僅次於最高法院的司法機構）
6. runway [ˈrʌnweɪ] n. 飛機跑道
7. the House of Commons （英國）下議院
8. precedent [ˈpresɪdənt] n. 可援引的先例或判例
9. on grounds that基於……理由；以……為依據
10. incompatible [ˌɪnkəmˈpætəbl]］ a. 不相容的；不協調的；互斥的
11. have a bearing on對……有影響；與……有關
12. minister [ˈmɪnɪstər] n.（英國等國家的）部長，大臣
13. business as usual照常營業；一切照舊
14. imperative [ɪmˈperətɪv] n. 重要緊急的事；必要的事
15. reconcile [ˈrekənsaɪl] v. 使和諧一致；調和
16. aviation [ˌeɪviˈeɪʃn] n. 航空；飛行；航空製造業
17. overtake [ˌəʊvəˈteɪk] v. （在數量或重要性方面）大於，超過
18. decarbonisation [ˌdiːˌkɑːrbənəˈzeɪʃn] n. 去碳化；脫碳
19. frequentflyer levy飛行常客稅
20. spare capacity空餘容量；空餘運力
21. weigh sth against sth 將兩個事物放一起認真考慮/權衡
22. breakdown [ˈbreɪkdaʊn] n. 崩潰，失敗
23. jubilant [ˈdʒuːbɪlənt] a. 興高採烈的；歡欣鼓舞的
buck [bʌk] v. 抵制；反抗
I It’s not often that climate activists get to punch the air. News about the environment is alarming far more frequently than it is cheering.So campaigners were understandably jubilant on Thursday when the court of appeal issued its surprise ruling that the government’s plans to build a third runway at Heathrow are illegal.
[翻譯] 氣候活動人士振臂歡呼的機會並不多。環境新聞引發恐慌的頻率遠高於歡喜。因此，當英國上訴法院周四出人意料地判定政府在希思羅機場修建第三條跑道的計劃不合法時，活動人士感到歡欣鼓舞是情理之中的事。
[點評] 引出可喜的環境新聞：英國法院最近判決政府擴建希思羅機場的計劃不合法。
主要邏輯銜接：本段三句借情緒類表述punch the air（興奮揮拳）、cheering（令人興奮）、jubilant（歡呼雀躍）緊密串聯，凸顯人對事的情緒反應。前兩句以頻度詞（not often、far more frequently than）和情緒詞（punch the air、alarming、cheering）銜接，凸顯情形「氣候活動人士開心的時候很少，因為環境新聞中壞消息遠多於好消息」，第三句以So遞進引出情理之中的事：氣候活動人士對英國法院的最新裁決（可喜的環境新聞）感到喜出望外。
核心關鍵詞：①jubilant；②surprise ruling
II Not only does the ruling make it increasingly unlikely that the controversial project, approved by the House of Commons in June 2018, will go ahead. The judges set an extraordinary precedent. This is because they made their ruling on grounds that the policy of expanding the airport is incompatible with commitments made by the government in the Paris climate agreement. While the law says that national policy must take account of the UK’s climate commitments, the 2018 airport statement didn’t. The case has shown that with the right legislation in place, international climate agreements can have a direct bearing on domestic decisionmaking.
[翻譯]該裁決不僅使這個爭議項目繼續推進的可能性越來越小（該項目已於2018年6月獲英國下議院批准）。法官們還開創了一個非同尋常的先例。這是因為他們做出裁決的依據是，機場擴建政策有悖於政府在巴黎氣候協議中做出的承諾。法律規定，國家政策必須考慮英國氣候承諾，但是2018年的機場聲明並未做到這一點。該案表明，通過適當的立法，國際氣候協議可以對國內決策產生直接影響。
[點評]論述該裁決的直接影響及法律意義：希思羅擴建項目很可能就此取消；將巴黎氣候協議作為裁決依據開創了司法先例。
主要邏輯銜接：本段the ruling、The judges、precedent、they（指法官）、The case均指向首段的法院裁決（the court of appeal issued its surprise ruling）。首句先介紹裁決的直接影響「希思羅機場擴建項目很可能會被取消」，Not only提示下文會引出其他影響；隨後第二句指出裁決的法律意義「開創了司法先例」，第三、四句以This is because開啟對「該裁決開創先例」的原因解釋：法官以巴黎氣候協議（國際氣候法規）作為裁決依據，認為政府的機場擴建政策有悖於政府在巴黎協定中做出的氣候承諾；第五句承上進一步解讀案件：通過適當立法，國際氣候協議可約束國內決策。
核心關鍵詞：set an extraordinary precedent
III Beyond the immediate significance of Heathrow, particularly to the west London residents who have consistently opposed it, the judgment highlights a deeper tension between economic development and climate policymaking. We are in a climate emergency. This legal ruling shows that under the law, ministers cannot default—when it suits them—to business as usual. As Lord Deben, the chair of the advisory Committee on Climate Change, put it: 「The fact is, it is the law that we have to keep our emissions down.」
[翻譯]除了希思羅機場的當前意義（尤其對於那些一直反對該機場建設的西倫敦居民而言），該判決還突顯了經濟發展與氣候決策之間更深層次的緊張關係。我們已進入氣候緊急狀態。這一法律裁決表明，根據法律規定，部長們不能在情形有利於自己的時候默認保持「一切照舊」的不作為姿態。正如氣候變化諮詢委員會主席德本勳爵所說:「事實是，法律規定我們必須降低碳排放。」
[點評] 論述該裁決的深遠影響：政府須依法決策，摒棄「一切照舊」經濟發展思路，採取強力氣候行動。
主要邏輯銜接：本段借過渡詞Beyond將論述視角由Heathrow放大至economic development，行文關注點由「希思羅擴建項目與氣候的衝突（上段）」過渡至「經濟發展與氣候的衝突（本段）」。首句概述指出新裁決不僅突顯了希思羅擴建項目的直接環境影響，還突顯了經濟發展與氣候決策的深層衝突；第二至四句指出新裁決對政府決策的啟示：在英國已宣布進入氣候緊急狀態的背景下，政府必須依法決策，改變一切照舊的經濟發展模式，採取強有力的緊急氣候行動（註：climate emergency「氣候緊急狀態」指一種需要採取緊急行動來緩解或遏制氣候變化，以避免引發不可逆轉的環境破壞的狀況。目前，歐盟、加拿大、阿根廷、孟加拉國均已宣布進入氣候緊急狀態）。
核心關鍵詞：a deeper tension between economic development and climate policymaking
IV There is probably no area in which economic and environmental imperatives are harder to reconcile than aviation. Currently responsible for around 2% of global emissions, its share is predicted to grow fast. Aviation emissions rose by 32% between 2013 and 2018, and in the UK are expected to overtake all other sources by 2050. While new batteries, sustainable fuels and new engine technology are all anticipated, the prospect of anything approaching 「green」 flying remains remote.
[翻譯]迫切需要解決的問題不是養老金太優厚——而是它越來越難獲取，而且太過微薄。在私人養老金愈來愈遙不可及的時代，國家養老金這張安全網變得更為重要。零工經濟的興起以及工資緊縮意味著許多人負擔不起或者根本沒有職業養老金。也就是說，到2036年英國將有四分之三的老年人將完全依賴政府支付的養老金。所以在接下來的幾年，捍衛國家養老金的原則將愈發重要：福利不是一種負擔，而是一張為社會利益而設、文明（國度）的安全網，每個人都可享有。
[點評] 描述航空業的碳排放難題：比其他行業脫碳更困難，很難調和經濟與環境的矛盾。
主要邏輯銜接：各句關鍵詞aviation、its share（指航空碳排放量）、Aviation emissions、「green」flying均與「航空碳排放」相關，凸顯段落主題「航空業的碳排放問題」。首句概述現狀：航空業很難調和經濟和環境的關係。第二至末句具體解釋：航空業的碳排放一直呈增長趨勢，預計到2050年英國航空碳排放將超過其他碳源；儘管新技術有望助推航空業減排，但綠色飛行目標仍很遙遠。關鍵詞：aviation emissions
核心關鍵詞：①far too small; ②the state pension
V That’s why the government’s official advice is that aviation should be allowed to buck the trend of decarbonisation, and to grow by up to 25% between now and 2050. But even if this is accepted—despite the risks—ministers must address the question of where this growth will take place, while working to reduce demand via new charges such as a frequentflyer levy. While there is spare capacity in some places, airports from Aberdeen to Southampton have plans to expand passenger numbers by 59%, far beyond the official guidance. Such plans are not compatible with the UK’s climate goals.
[翻譯]這就可以解釋為什麼政府的官方建議是，應該允許航空業在去碳化大潮中逆勢而行，容許其運量從現在至2050年間最多增長25%。但即使這一建議得到認同（儘管有風險），部長們也還須在通過飛行常客稅等新增收費努力減少航空需求的同時，解決上述航空增量將在哪裡產生的問題。雖然一些地方有多餘的運力，但阿伯丁、南安普頓等城市的機場計劃將乘客人數增加59%，這遠遠超出了官方指導增幅。這些計劃與英國的氣候目標不相容。
[點評]指出政府目前必須解決的問題：即使航空業短期內難以脫碳，政府也必須解決航空增量來自何處的問題。
主要邏輯銜接：航空相關詞aviation、demand、frequent-flyer、capacity（運力）、airports、passenger以及政府相關詞government』 s official advice、ministers、official guidance凸顯本段主題「政府部門在航空碳排放問題上的舉動」。首句由上段「航空業脫碳困難現狀」過渡引出政府建議「既然航空業短期內難以實現脫碳目標，那麼就應允許其適度增長（既指運力/乘客增長，也指碳排放增長）」。第二句以But轉折引出政府須著重考慮的重要問題：即使允許航空業適度增長，政府也必須解決「增量在何處產生（即在何處擴增運力）」的問題。第三、四句具體解釋不同地區機場運力失衡問題：雖然其他機場有空餘運力（spare capacity），但阿伯丁、南安普頓等地的機場計劃將運力擴增59%，這一增幅遠超政府建議（到2050年最多增長25%），顯然這些機場的運力擴增計劃有悖於英國的氣候目標。
核心關鍵詞：ministers must address the question
VI Britain needs a national aviation plan to weigh the demands of different regions against each other. But nowhere must boosting air traffic be viewed as a shortcut to prosperity. In an era of climate breakdown, there is really no option other than to seek alternative routes to success.
[翻譯]英國需要制定一個國家航空計劃來權衡不同地區的航空需求。但是，任何地方都不能把提升航空客運量視為實現繁榮的捷徑。在一個氣候崩潰的時代，除了尋找通往成功的其他途徑外，真的沒有其他選擇。
[點評]針對上述問題提出建議：制定一個國家航空計劃來權衡不同地區的運輸需求，但不能把航空業視為發展經濟的捷徑。
主要邏輯銜接：段首以建議句Britain needs a national aviation plan...呼應上段ministers must address the question of...，凸顯「問題—建議」段際邏輯。首句針對上段機場運力問題提出建議：制定一個國家航空計劃權衡各地運輸需求（即統籌規劃各地運力，避免各地機場各自為戰）。第二、三句轉而向政府提出告誡：任何地方都不能把促進航空業當作發展經濟的捷徑；在氣候崩潰時期的經濟發展必須依靠航空業之外的其他途徑。
核心關鍵詞：①a national aviation plan；②seek alternative routes to success