On Wednesday, the energy secretary, Miatta Fahnbulleh, gave the go-ahead(批准，许可) for gas production to begin at the Jackdaw gasfield in the North Sea. This has been the subject of fierce debate(激烈争论的焦点) for many years, with strong views on both sides(双方观点针锋相对). I want to explain what the decision means and how it fits with Britain’s climate commitments.(我想解释这一决定的含义，以及它如何与英国的气候承诺相契合。)
周三，能源大臣米亚塔·法恩布莱批准北海杰克多气田开始开采天然气。多年来，此事一直引发激烈争论，双方观点针锋相对。我想解释这一决定的含义，以及它如何与英国的气候承诺相契合。
At a time of acute(严重的，急剧的) global instability, it makes sense to(做……是明智的) responsibly use our resources here at home. Gas from this field will begin heating our homes and powering our businesses this winter. In the longer term, it will significantly strengthen our energy security by increasing domestic gas production by about 6% and support the UK’s energy supply for more than a decade.(从长远看，这将使国内天然气产量增加约6%，从而显著增强我们的能源安全，并在未来十多年支撑英国的能源供应。) Wednesday’s decision will also protect hundreds of jobs in Scotland and add almost £3bn to the UK economy over the lifetime of the project(在项目整个生命周期内).
在全球局势急剧动荡之际，负责任地利用国内资源是明智之举。今年冬天，该气田的天然气将开始为我们的家庭供暖、为企业供电。从长远看，这将使国内天然气产量增加约6%，从而显著增强我们的能源安全，并在未来十多年支撑英国的能源供应。周三的决定还将保护苏格兰数百个就业岗位，并在项目整个生命周期内为英国经济贡献近30亿英镑。
There has been much speculation(猜测，推测) about what this announcement means for Britain’s commitment to addressing the climate crisis. I want to be clear that our determination is unwavering(毫不动摇的). The simple truth is that even as we pursue our ambitious target of net zero by 2050, we will need oil and gas for years to come as a bridge to that clean-energy future.(简单的事实是，即便我们在追求2050年净零这一宏伟目标，未来数年我们仍需要石油和天然气，作为通往清洁能源未来的桥梁。) And imported gas has a higher carbon footprint(碳足迹) than gas produced at home. The transition to net zero is a process, not a moment. I want Britain to make that transition on our terms(按照我们自己的条件): reducing our dependence on foreign fossil fuels, supporting good jobs and growing our economy so we can help people with the cost of living.
对于这一声明对英国应对气候危机承诺意味着什么，外界有诸多猜测。我想明确表示，我们的决心毫不动摇。简单的事实是，即便我们在追求2050年净零这一宏伟目标，未来数年我们仍需要石油和天然气，作为通往清洁能源未来的桥梁。而且，进口天然气的碳足迹高于本土生产的天然气。净零转型是一个过程，而非一个瞬间。我希望英国按照我们自己的条件完成这一转型：减少对外国化石燃料的依赖，支持优质就业，发展经济，从而帮助民众应对生活成本。