蒙特婁公約奏效
As human civilization develops at an unprecedented rate, one glaring fact we can no longer sweep under the rug is the damage human beings have brought on Earth.
隨著人類文明以前所未有的速度發展，我們再也無法掩蓋的一個明顯事實是人類對地球造成的破壞。
unprecedented(adj.)史無前例的;空前的;絕無僅有的glare(v.)發出刺眼的光、怒視，瞪眼glaring(adj.)刺眼的、(負面事物）十分顯眼的，易見的，明顯的=very obvioussweep sth. under the rug隱瞞;掩飾=to hide a problem
For a while, it seemed as though we were recklessly rushing headlong into irreversible environmental damage, but a recent study has given us a glimmer of hope.
過去我們似乎不計後果地奔向不可逆的環境破壞，但最近有項研究為我們帶來了一線希望。
it seemed as though…=it seems as if… 似乎;好像recklessly(adv.)不在乎地、魯莽地、不顧一切地reckless driving 魯莽駕駛headlong(adv.)速度很快地;輕率地reverse(v.)顛倒、反轉、使倒退、使倒轉、使反向reversible(adj.)可逆的reversible chemical reactions可逆的化學反應irreversible(adj.)不可逆的a glimmer of light一絲光線a glimmer of hope一絲希望
Up until around 2000, the southern jet stream, a powerful wind that shapes the weather patterns and ocean currents in the southern hemisphere, had been shifting southwards towards the Antarctic and affecting the climates of South America, East Africa and Australia.
直至2000年左右，南半球噴射氣流一直偏離原本的路線往南極移動，影響南美、東非和澳洲的氣候，南半球噴射氣流是形塑南半球天氣型態和洋流的強勁氣流。
southern jet stream南半球噴射氣流ocean currents洋流the southern hemisphere南半球the northern hemisphere北半球had been Ving過去完成進行式
This change in course was the result of a hole in the ozone layer, which is the part of the atmosphere that protects Earth from the Sun’s harmful ultraviolet rays.
南半球噴射氣流偏離的原因是臭氧層上有個破洞，臭氧層是大氣層的一部分，能保護地球不受太陽紫外線的侵害。
course(n.)(尤指飛機、太空船或輪船的)航向;航道、(河流的)流向，水道ozone layer臭氧層atmosphere(n.)大氣層ultraviolet rays紫外線
In 1985, the world was presented with scientific evidence that certain man-made chemical compounds were thinning the ozone layer.
1985年，有科學證據指出，某些人造化學化合物正在使臭氧層變薄。
present(v.)呈現compound(n.)化合物thin(v.)使變薄=make…thinner
These compounds, referred to as ozone depleting substances (ODS), are found in aerosols, refrigerators, and other industrial processes.
這些化合物被稱為「臭氧層破壞物質」（ODS），存在於氣溶膠、冰箱和其他工業製程中。
referred to as…=which are referred to as…=(which are) called or named…ozone depleting substances (ODS) 臭氧層破壞物質deplete(v.)消耗;耗費(資源、金錢、精力等)deplete natural resources消耗自然資源aerosol(n.)氣溶膠
Knowledge of this prompted world governments to begin phasing out these substances in an agreement called the Montreal Protocol, signed in 1987.
對「臭氧層破壞物質」的了解促使世界各國政府於1987年簽署《蒙特婁公約》，逐步禁止這些物質的使用。
prompt sb. to do sth. 促使某人做某事=induce sb. to do sth.phase out 逐步淘汰phase in逐步採用
A study tracking the moving patterns of the southern jet stream has shown that the protocol had successfully paused the southward movement of the southern jet stream and may even be starting to reverse it.
追蹤南半球噴射氣流移動型態的研究指出，《蒙特婁公約》已成功暫停了南半球噴射氣流的向南運動，甚至可能開始逆轉。
A study tracking…=A study which tracked…reverse(v.)顛倒、反轉、使倒退、使倒轉、使反向
Last September, satellite images also revealed that the annual peak of the ozone layer’s hole had shrunk to its smallest extent since 1982.
去年9月衛星圖像還顯示臭氧層破洞的年度峰值已縮小到1982年以來的最低水平。
peak(n.)山峰;頂峰;峰值shrink-shrank-shrunk or shrunken 縮小;縮水=reduce
These findings suggest that with swift, coordinated action, humanity can take back control of the situation and stop climate change.
這些發現顯示，人類只要迅速採取協調一致的行動，就可能控制住局面並阻止氣候變遷。
with~憑藉著;藉由coordinated(adj.)協調一致的=joint=unitedconcerted(adj.)協同一致的;齊心協力的;全力以赴的