| Copyright: | PR Newswire | | Source: | PR Newswire | | Wordcount: | 694 |
PITTSBURGH, June 23 /PRNewswire/ -- A resolution being introduced in City
Council tomorrow is designed to generate a 20-percent reduction in
Pittsburgh's greenhouse gas emissions by 2023.
To achieve its goal, the resolution contains a Climate Action Plan, which
details specific actions municipal government should take while endorsing a
series of recommendations for community organizations, businesses and
institutions of higher education.
The resolution and its Climate Action Plan were developed by the Green
Government Task Force (GGTF), a coalition of local, state and federal
officials as well as representatives from businesses, universities,
foundations and non-profit organizations. Co-chairs of the GGTF are Pittsburgh
Mayor Luke Ravenstahl, Pittsburgh City Councilman Bill Peduto and Pennsylvania
State Senator Jim Ferlo. Rebecca Flora, executive director of the Green
Building Alliance, first convened the group two years ago and serves as its
facilitator.
"Our goal in reducing Pittsburgh's greenhouse gases is to continue
Pittsburgh's leadership in green innovation and solutions," Flora said.
"Pittsburgh's actions to combat climate change will position the city to
achieve economic and health benefits while reducing our impact on the natural
environment that we greatly value in Western Pennsylvania."
In addition to developing the Climate Action Plan for Pittsburgh, the GGTF
has created the Pittsburgh Climate Initiative, a collaborative project of the
Green Building Alliance that will assist all sectors and their subcommittees
in the implementation of the Climate Action Plan's recommended actions and
ongoing monitoring of progress.
Pittsburgh's Climate Action Plan follows a model established by ICLEI
Local Governments for Sustainability, a membership organization serving
communities worldwide. The City of Pittsburgh became a member of ICLEI in
2006. Additionally, Clean Air-Cool Planet (CA-CP), a non-profit based in
Portsmouth, N.H., has partnered with GBA to provide technical assistance in
the development of the Climate Action Plan.
According to Adam Markham, chief executive officer of CA-CP, its decision
to focus on Pittsburgh was driven by Pennsylvania's role in greenhouse gas
emissions. "The United States is one of the largest emitters of greenhouse
gases in the world, and Pennsylvania ranks third nationally," Markham said.
A student research team from Carnegie Mellon University's
Heinz School,
led by Flora, conducted an emissions inventory in the fall of 2006 as part of
the ICLEI model and established 2003 as the baseline year for Pittsburgh upon
which all future reductions will be measured against.
Flora originally approached Mayor Bob O'Connor about participating in the
ICLEI program in 2006. Upon O'Connor's death in September of 2006, Mayor
Ravenstahl quickly continued the city's participation in the program,
committing his top staff to serve on the GGTF.
"Pittsburgh has a well-earned reputation for environmental leadership, and
our decision to reduce greenhouse gas emissions locally sends a powerful
message globally that we are committed to being good stewards of our natural
resources," Mayor Ravenstahl said. "The fact the GGTF enjoys broad support,
from all levels of government and from a wide variety of institutions and
individuals, is proof that reducing greenhouse gases and their impact on
climate change is worthy of our city's support."
"The creation of the Action Plan exemplifies our desire to create an
inclusive process unlike any other in the nation; it is putting Pittsburgh on
the map," Councilman Peduto said. "By introducing the Action Plan into City
Council, we are raising awareness of climate change in both the community and
city government."
Sometimes referred to as global warming, climate change is the process by
which human emissions of greenhouse gases are changing the Earth's climate
system. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and the
National Academies of Science, warming the past several decades is likely the
result of human activities such as the burning of fossil fuels, industrial and
agricultural processes and the decomposition from municipal landfills, which
release greenhouse gases, including carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide.
About the Pittsburgh Climate Initiative:
The Pittsburgh Climate Initiative seeks to raise awareness and engage
Pittsburgh's residents, businesses, government and institutions of higher
learning in the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. The Roy A. Hunt
Foundation, The Heinz Endowments and the Surdna Foundation are providing
financial support for the initiative.
SOURCE Green Building Alliance
CONTACT: Eamon T. Geary, +1-412-431-0709, ext. 6004, eamong@gbapgh.org
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