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Pittsburgh mayor signs executive order to continue city's climate efforts

PITTSBURGH — Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto issued an executive order Friday to further promote climate control initiatives following President Donald Trump's decision to pull the United States out of the Paris climate accord of 2015.

The order follows the mayor's denunciation Thursday of Trump's decision to pull the U.S. out of the 195-nation climate agreement, which Peduto supported.

The president's comments about Pittsburgh and the mayor's response Thursday thrust the city into the national spotlight.

Mayor Peduto told Channel 11's Rick Earle his phone has been ringing off the hook and he's been inundated with requests for interviews from news media all over the world.

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"It means everything from starting the conversion of our fleet to hybrids and electric, to the ability to create larger track development with renewable energy sources," Peduto said.

The order describes the history of the city's commitment to climate change initiatives, and lays out more work Pittsburgh will be doing through 2030.

"For decades Pittsburgh has been rebuilding its economy based on hopes for our people and our future, not on outdated fantasies about our past,” Peduto said in a press release. “The city and its many partners will continue to do the same, despite the President's imprudent announcements yesterday."

According to the press release, Pittsburgh is committed to the following objectives:

  • Help to meet the 1.5 degrees Celsius target.
  • Continue working on 2030 climate objectives, including achieving 100 percent renewable electricity consumption for municipal operations and development of a fossil fuel-free fleet.
  • Reduce greenhouse gas emissions and building a more sustainable city.
  • Advance carbon neutrality objectives within Pittsburgh.
  • Adopt energy efficiency standards for buildings.
  • Electrify transportation system with renewable energy sources.

A full copy of the executive order is available here.

"The mayor needs to take a look at this agreement," Republican U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly said. "It's only 25 pages. If he sees something in there that ties Pittsburgh to this initiative I'd be glad to have him school me."

Kelly supports the president, and said the Paris agreement is bad for jobs and Western Pennsylvania.

"We're a blue-collar area, and we are going to protect jobs every time we can," Kelly said. "America has sovereignty over it's own policies."

Peduto said he's received more inquiries on this issue than any other issue his administration has been involved with.

 

Cox Media Group

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