美国国家公共电台 NPR--Young activists have pushed Florida to set clean energy goals

Young activists¹ have pushed Florida to set clean energy goals

Transcript²

The state is expected to transition to 100% renewable energy by 2050. The new climate targets are thanks to about 200 young activists who demanded change from state leaders.

A MARTINEZ, HOST:

Florida is expected to put new goals in place this week to transition the state to 100% renewable energy by 2050. As WMFE’s Amy Green reports, the new climate targets are thanks to about 200 young activists who demanded change from state leaders.

AMY GREEN, BYLINE³: For half his life, 15-year-old Levi Draheim has been involved in litigation aimed at holding federal leaders and leaders in Florida accountable on climate change and fossil fuels.

LEVI DRAHEIM: My mom says I have a light inside of me that helps me to be a better person.

GREEN: He's at the kitchen table with his mom, Leigh-Ann Draheim.

LEIGH-ANN DRAHEIM: He just had that sort of energy about him. So I think - when he fell into this role, I think it was a good thing for him because people, for whatever reason, are interested in Levi and what he has to say.

GREEN: Her son is among the young Floridians who petitioned state leaders to follow through with a legal requirement to set goals to get to 100% clean energy by 2050, a benchmark scientists say is necessary to avoid the worst consequences of climate change. With help from Our Children's Trust, an environmental legal group, Levi and his fellow activists found something in the state statutes⁴ that leaders had overlooked - a law requiring Florida to set renewable energy goals.

In Florida, the energy office is overseen⁵ by Agriculture Commissioner⁶ Nikki Fried, a Democrat⁷. She's running against Republican Governor Ron DeSantis this year and has railed against the governor for inaction on climate change. Still, it wasn't until Levi and the other young Floridians brought the law to Fried's attention that she took action herself.

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NIKKI FRIED: I am so proud to announce that my department has issued the first-ever statewide renewable energy goals.

GREEN: Levi says he feels a responsibility to hold leaders accountable.

LEVI: If you were given an opportunity to stop an explosion that you knew would kill everyone and you were given that opportunity to stop it - if you don't take that opportunity and you survive, that's something that will always be there.

GREEN: In 2015, Levi became the youngest plaintiff in a landmark⁸ lawsuit⁹ involving children from across the country. The case challenged the federal government for pushing fossil fuel development despite knowing the risks to the climate. Levi later joined a similar lawsuit in Florida. Both cases were tossed on appeal. But in Florida, the young plaintiffs weren't ready to give up.

Andrea Rodgers of Our Children's Trust says, when the attorneys went back to Florida statutes, they discovered the mandate¹⁰ for renewable energy goals. She says children are politically powerless in many ways, except in the courts.

ANDREA RODGERS: Many times, you know, over many decades it's been children leading the way, whether in the civil rights cases - you know, you look at the young plaintiffs in Brown v. Board of Education.

GREEN: In a Republican-led state where leaders have taken next to no action on climate change, Levi says his involvement in the litigation has been rewarding but frustrating¹¹. Most of his friends are supportive. But some don't understand the problem of climate change. One friend thought he should focus on racism¹² and homophobia. Levi says he feels obligated to speak out about climate change as a person of color.

LEVI: African American people - most of time we don't live in as safe of a - as strong of a neighborhood that can deal with it. Or if we do, then it's in the area that is more greatly affected¹³.

GREEN: With the action Levi and other young people took, Florida joins nearly half of states, Washington, D.C. and Puerto Rico that have goals for transitioning toward 100% clean energy.

For NPR News, I'm Amy Green in Melbourne, Fla.

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1 activists   

n.（政治活动的）积极分子，活动家( activist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• His research work was attacked by animal rights activists . 他的研究受到了动物权益维护者的抨击。
• Party activists with lower middle class pedigrees are numerous. 党的激进分子中有很多出身于中产阶级下层。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 transcript   

n.抄本，誊本，副本，肄业证书

参考例句：

• A transcript of the tapes was presented as evidence in court.一份录音带的文字本作为证据被呈交法庭。
• They wouldn't let me have a transcript of the interview.他们拒绝给我一份采访的文字整理稿。

3 byline   

n.署名；v.署名

参考例句：

• His byline was absent as well.他的署名也不见了。
• We wish to thank the author of this article which carries no byline.我们要感谢这篇文章的那位没有署名的作者。

4 statutes   

成文法( statute的名词复数 )； 法令； 法规； 章程

参考例句：

• The numerous existing statutes are complicated and poorly coordinated. 目前繁多的法令既十分复杂又缺乏快调。 来自英汉非文学 - 环境法 - 环境法
• Each agency is also restricted by the particular statutes governing its activities. 各个机构的行为也受具体法令限制。 来自英汉非文学 - 环境法 - 环境法

5 overseen   

v.监督，监视( oversee的过去分词 )

参考例句：

• He was overseen stealing the letters. 他被人撞见在偷信件。 来自辞典例句
• It will be overseen by ThomasLi, director of IBM China Research Laboratory. 该实验室由IBM中国研究院院长李实恭(ThomasLi)引导。 来自互联网

6 commissioner   

n.（政府厅、局、处等部门）专员，长官，委员

参考例句：

• The commissioner has issued a warrant for her arrest.专员发出了对她的逮捕令。
• He was tapped for police commissioner.他被任命为警务处长。

7 democrat   

n.民主主义者，民主人士；民主党党员

参考例句：

• The Democrat and the Public criticized each other.民主党人和共和党人互相攻击。
• About two years later,he was defeated by Democrat Jimmy Carter.大约两年后，他被民主党人杰米卡特击败。

8 landmark   

n.陆标，划时代的事，地界标

参考例句：

• The Russian Revolution represents a landmark in world history.俄国革命是世界历史上的一个里程碑。
• The tower was once a landmark for ships.这座塔曾是船只的陆标。

9 lawsuit   

n.诉讼，控诉

参考例句：

• They threatened him with a lawsuit.他们以诉讼威逼他。
• He was perpetually involving himself in this long lawsuit.他使自己无休止地卷入这场长时间的诉讼。

10 mandate   

n.托管地；命令，指示

参考例句：

• The President had a clear mandate to end the war.总统得到明确的授权结束那场战争。
• The General Election gave him no such mandate.大选并未授予他这种权力。

11 frustrating   

adj.产生挫折的，使人沮丧的，令人泄气的v.使不成功( frustrate的现在分词 )；挫败；使受挫折；令人沮丧

参考例句：

• It's frustrating to have to wait so long. 要等这么长时间，真令人懊恼。
• It was a demeaning and ultimately frustrating experience. 那是一次有失颜面并且令人沮丧至极的经历。 来自《简明英汉词典》

12 racism   

n.民族主义；种族歧视(意识)

参考例句：

• He said that racism is endemic in this country.他说种族主义在该国很普遍。
• Racism causes political instability and violence.种族主义道致政治动荡和暴力事件。

13 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。