David Masur
Executive Director, PennEnvironment
Executive Director, PennEnvironment
PennEnvironment
PITTSBURGH (June 5, 2017) – Sending a clear message that President Trump’s disastrous climate policies don’t represent the opinion of Pittsburghers, the city’s senior elected officials, including Pittsburgh Mayor William Peduto and Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald, have signed a full-page advertisement that will appear in tomorrow’s Pittsburgh Post-Gazette supporting action to curb the dangerous impacts of climate change.
“Pittsburghers overwhelmingly support action on climate change,” the elected officials write. “We want to grow clean energy jobs and a strong economy. We want our families to breathe healthy air and reduce pollution. And we want to leave a healthy and safe planet where we’ve addressed and solved climate change – for our kids and future generations.”
Mayor Peduto and County Executive Fitzgerald are joined by state Senate Minority Leader Jay Costa, State Rep. Dan Frankel and U.S. Rep. Mike Doyle, along with nearly 20 additional Allegheny County elected officials and members of the region’s delegation to Harrisburg.
The signers intend to educate the city’s residents and rebut President Trump’s claim last week that he was acting in the best interests of Pittsburgh residents by abandoning the Paris accord, an international agreement to fight climate change.
“In the real Pittsburgh – not the outdated one presented by President Trump – we are committed to tackling climate change and doing our part to embrace the promises of the Paris Accords,” Mayor Peduto said. “Anyone who really knows about our city, and truly represents it, would know this.”
A majority of Americans in every state – including Pennsylvania – want the United States to remain a part of the landmark treaty, which commits nations to curbing emissions that contribute to climate change and to supporting poorer countries that are beginning to experience its disastrous impacts, according to the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication.
“After President Trump’s disastrous decision to withdraw from the Paris Climate Agreement, it is critical that cities lead the fight against climate change,” said Pittsburgh City Councilman Dan Gilman. “By adopting ambitious renewable energy goals, investing in smart transportation, and building a more resilient city, Pittsburgh is leading the charge. I applaud Mayor Peduto, other local leaders, and environmental organizations for standing up for a safer and more prosperous future.”
Trump’s move to exit the international climate accord threatens America’s leadership in developing a 21st century clean energy economy that has already created nearly 70,000 jobs in Pennsylvania in wind, solar and energy efficiency; twice the number of fossil fuel jobs in state.
“President Trump clearly doesn’t understand the Paris treaty – and he certainly doesn’t understand Pittsburgh. By withdrawing from this non-binding agreement, we’re giving up our leadership on the issue, and we won’t even have a seat at the table,” noted Pittsburgh Congressman Mike Doyle. “Moreover, Pittsburgh is becoming a leader in carbon-free energy sources and energy-efficiency technology. That means US action to address climate change actually creates good jobs in Pittsburgh. The president’s decision to withdraw from the Paris climate agreement hurts Pittsburgh’s economy.”
And thanks to Pittsburgh’s growth as an engineering and technology hub, 13,000 Pittsburghers already work in clean energy industries.
“We applaud Pittsburgh’s elected officials for being unwavering in their commitment to building a clean energy future despite the opposition coming from the White House,” PennEnvironment Executive Director David Masur said. “Our children and families can’t wait any longer, and it’s great to see Pittsburgh take the lead in the fight against climate change.”
Despite Trump’s decision, the signatories have pledged to continue policies to grow the clean energy economy here in Pittsburgh.
A full list of signers is below:
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