The Mayors of Pittsburgh and Paris: We Have Our Own Climate Deal

Last week, President Donald Trump tried to pit our two cities against each other when he announced, in pulling out of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, “I was elected to represent the citizens of Pittsburgh, not Paris.” As the mayors of Pittsburgh and Paris, we’re here to say that we’re more united than ever.

Mayor Bill Peduto of Pittsburgh, left, and Mayor Ann
 Hidalgo, of Paris, are outspoken supporters of the
Paris climate accord.

Though separated by an ocean and a language, we share a desire to do what is best for our citizens and our planet. That means putting aside parochial politics and embracing the global challenge of fighting climate change. In doing so, we can create a cleaner, healthier, more prosperous world for Parisians, Pittsburghers and everyone else on the planet.

As the sun sets each evening on the Allegheny River, Pittsburgh’s Rachel Carson Bridge lights up with 27,000 multi-colored bulbs. This nightly display downtown in the City of Bridges is powered entirely by 16 wind turbines attached to the arches of the bridge. It’s just one example of how a city once famous for its steel mills has emerged as a trailblazer in environmental innovation.

Read The New York Times story by Anne HidalgoI and Williams Peduto - “The Mayors of Pittsburgh and Paris: We Have Our Own Climate Deal.”