Neil:This is Real English from BBC Learning¹ English. I'm Neil.

Lily:大家好，我是杨莉。

Neil:This is the programme in which we look at words and phrases that you may not find in your dictionary.

Lily:地道英语和大家一起学习现代英式英语中经常出现的流行词汇和实用表达。

Neil:Today we're looking at an expression which has become very popular over the last year.

Lily:What's that?

Neil:Carbon footprint.

Lily:Carbon footprint. What does it mean?

Neil:Well, let's start with the second word, footprint.

Lily:OK.

Neil:You know what happens when you walk on wet or muddy ground?

Lily:Oh yes. 从湿路或泥路上走过时会留下足迹 – footprint.

Neil:That's right. Well your carbon footprint is the impact² you make on the planet³ from your use of energy.

Lily:Carbon 碳. 碳足迹就是指一个人的能源意识和行为对自然界产生的影响。

Insert

A: I'm going on a weekend break to Barcelona tomorrow. I managed to get a really cheap flight.

B: Didn't you fly to Paris last month?

A: Yeah, that was a bargain too.

B: Don't you ever think about the environment? Your carbon footprint must be terrible!

Neil:He uses planes frequently, so he has a large carbon footprint. He uses a lot of energy which puts carbon into the environment.

Lily:这位讲话的男子经常乘坐飞机旅行，那么他在这个世界上就留下了一个很大碳足迹。carbon footprint，因为汽油燃烧排放废气，污染环境。

Neil:So, lots of people want to reduce their carbon footprint.

Lily:What are you doing to reduce your carbon footprint, Neil?

Neil:Well, I only use my car for essential journeys and I've decided⁴ not to take short flights – I'll use the train instead.

Lily:Neil只是在必要时才开车，而且他还决定短途履行不坐飞机，只坐火车。

Neil:Well, that's all we have time for today.

Lily:You've been listening to Real English from BBC Learning English.

Neil:Join us again soon for more up-to-the-minute Real English. Bye.

Lily:See you next time.