Peduto to speak during event marking U.S. return to Paris Climate Agreement

Pittsburgh will again be linked with Paris Friday, as Mayor Bill Peduto will be among the dignitaries participating in a virtual event as the U.S. rejoins the Paris Climate Agreement.

The mayor will be the last speaker during an “America Is All In” event Friday morning that will feature Special Presidential Envoy on Climate John Kerry, White House National Climate Advisor Gina McCarthy and U.N. Special Envoy for Climate Ambition and Solutions Mike Bloomberg.

Peduto will deliver a virtual toast, hosted by the European Union, celebrating the United States’ return to the accords.

The mayor has long been a supporter of climate initiatives and he attended the 2015 signing of the agreement. He pledged Pittsburgh would abide by it even after former President Donald Trump removed the U.S. from the agreement in 2017.

The Steel City’s support of the agreement was derided by Trump and was again brought up earlier this year by Sen. Ted Cruz.

“President Biden indicates he’s more interested in the views of the citizens of Paris than in the jobs of the citizens of Pittsburgh,” Cruz tweeted Jan. 20. “This agreement will do little to affect the climate and will harm the livelihoods of Americans.”

Peduto disagrees and has been an advocate for what local governments like Pittsburgh can do to fight climate change.

In December, the city was awarded top honors in the 2020 Climate Protection Awards for its use of renewable resources in cooperation with the Western Pennsylvania Energy Consortium.

In 2020, the City of Pittsburgh achieved its goal of using 100% renewable energy for electricity in major facilities operated by the city government, something it had wanted to do by 2030.

Peduto has spearheaded a “Marshall Plan for Middle America” to invest billions of dollars in the region to help it to pursue green energy initiatives and economic development.