[ti:US Businesses Urge Biden to Set Big Climate Goal] [by:www.51voa.com] [00:00.00]更多听力请访问51VOA.COM [00:00.04]U.S. businesses are urging the Biden administration [00:04.60]to aim to cut greenhouse gases by at least 50 percent [00:10.44]below 2005 levels by 2030. [00:16.36]The more than 300 businesses and investors include big companies [00:22.84]such as Apple, Google, Microsoft and Coca-Cola. [00:30.24]The target would be nearly two times the nation's earlier goal [00:36.12]and require major changes to the power, [00:40.68]transportation and other industries. [00:45.60]President Biden has promised to announce the 2030 goal [00:50.76]before a virtual climate conference opens on April 22. [00:57.84]In a letter to Biden, the businesses said the U.S. needs [01:03.00]a "bold" target to reach a carbon-free future [01:07.72]and create millions of well-paying jobs. [01:13.76]Investing in clean energy and clean transportation [01:19.32]"can build a strong, more equitable [01:22.88]and more inclusive American economy,″ they wrote. [01:29.32]The letter was organized by We Mean Business, [01:34.28]a group of companies that supports action [01:38.12]to speed up a move to a carbon-free economy. [01:44.64]Companies with big energy holdings, including Exelon, [01:50.16]General Electric, PG&E and Edison International, also signed the letter. [01:59.64]Several European lawmakers, business executives and union leaders [02:06.16]also recently urged the U.S. to cut its greenhouse gases in half by 2030. [02:16.24]They called for a cooperative alliance to fight climate change [02:21.76]and work toward a low-carbon economy. [02:26.76]The letter from U.S. business leaders to the Democratic president [02:32.24]comes as breaks are growing [02:35.44]between corporate America and the Republican Party. [02:41.20]Corporations have begun distancing themselves from Republican [02:47.04]conspiracy theories and rejections of climate science, [02:52.64]as well as the refusal to accept the 2020 election results. [03:00.16]Millions of Americans are already feeling the effects of climate change, [03:06.20]the business leaders wrote to Biden. [03:10.40]They noted the severe winter storm [03:13.84]that caused electricity failures in Texas, [03:17.68]deadly wildfires in California and record-breaking hurricanes in the South. [03:25.76]Biden brought the U.S. back into the Paris climate agreement [03:31.48]and has made climate issues central to his presidency. [03:38.28]But more action is needed, the business leaders wrote. [03:44.72]An effective national climate plan "will require all of us,″ they added. [03:52.48]The leaders noted that Biden alone can set the path [03:57.08]by quickly "establishing a bold U.S. 2030 target.″ [04:04.52]I'm Alice Bryant. 更多听力请访问51VOA.COM