韓國新總統下令整治空氣污染
South Korea’s new president has taken aim at the country’s choking pollution problem, ordering the shutdown of ageing coal power plants in an attempt to stem growing public anger.
韓國新任總統將目標對準了韓國令人窒息的污染問題，下令關閉老舊的燃煤電廠，試圖平息愈演愈烈的公衆憤怒。Moon Jae-in on Monday declared that 10 of the country’s coal plants, aged 30 years or older, be shuttered temporarily next year and then altogether before the end of his five-year term.
文在寅(Moon Jae-in)週一宣佈明年暫時關閉國內10座30年以上（含）的燃煤電廠，接着會在其五年任期結束前永久關閉這些燃煤電廠。The moves comes as citizens of the east Asian nation suffer prolonged bouts of toxic fine dust — tiny particles also known as PM2.5 — that penetrate deep into the respiratory system and can cause a variety of illnesses, including cancer.
此舉出爐之際，這個東亞國家的公民正遭遇着一輪又一輪曠日持久的有毒細粉塵（又名PM2.5的細小顆粒物）困擾。這種細粉塵會深入人的呼吸系統，導致包括癌症在內的各種疾病。
So far this year, authorities have issued 92 fine dust warnings — up from 64 advisories in the same period last year.
今年到目前爲止，韓國當局已發出92次細粉塵警告，超過了去年同期的64次。The soaring levels of pollution have sparked growing public consternation, with the issue becoming a hot topic ahead of the election of Mr Moon last week.
急劇上升的污染水平，引發了公衆日益加劇的恐慌情緒。在上週文在寅當選之前，這個問題成了熱門話題。“President Moon’s order to suspend the coal-fired power plants’ operation shows his strong will to come up with fundamental solutions to the fine dust problem by putting it on the national agenda,” said a spokesperson for the presidential Blue House.
韓國總統府青瓦臺(Blue House)一名發言人表示：“文在寅總統停止燃煤電廠運營的命令，顯示了他通過將細粉塵問題擺上國家議程、拿出該問題根本解決方案的強烈意志。”Mr Moon also ordered the creation of a special fine dust task force, which he will personally oversee, the spokesman added.
這位發言人還表示，文在寅還下令成立一個細粉塵特別工作組，由他親自掛帥。Many in South Korea blame fine dust wafting in from China’s industrial and desert regions for their country’s pollution woes.
韓國許多人將該國遇到的污染問題歸咎於從中國工業區和荒漠地區飄來的細粉塵。But burning coal is another key source of emissions and the previous government had pledged to build 20 additional coal power plants to bolster the 59 in operation.
但是燃煤是另一個關鍵的污染排放來源，而上屆政府曾承諾要再建20座燃煤電廠，以補充正在運營的59座燃煤電廠。Burning of the fossil fuel accounts for about 40 per cent of South Korea’s energy generation.
韓國發電量的大約40%來自燃燒這種化石燃料。Nuclear power’s share, meanwhile, has slipped to 30 per cent today from 40 per cent in 2005 amid safety concerns and following a series of scandals.
與此同時，在一系列醜聞之後，出於安全方面的擔憂，韓國核電所佔份額已經從2005年的40%降至如今的30%。Mr Moon has also promised to shut a number of ageing nuclear reactors in a move which, combined with the coal plant closures, could raise questions about the country’s energy generation plans.
文在寅還承諾關閉一系列老舊的核反應堆。這一舉措再加上燃煤電廠的關閉，可能引發對該國發電規劃的質疑。
