The Trump administration has chosen to withdraw from the Paris Climate Agreement, a non-binding resolution that will take four years to remove the U.S. from. Since the accords are entirely voluntarily and simple guidelines, the mayors of America’s major cities have already told Trump in no uncertain terms that they’re sticking to the Paris accords anyway, but that didn’t stop Trump from saying he represents “Pittsburgh, not Paris.” And Pittsburgh’s mayor, Bill Peduto, has a few words for Trump.
Trump’s exact quote was “I was elected to represent the citizens of Pittsburgh, not Paris.” Peduto’s first response was that Trump is not popular in the land of Yinzers:
Fact: Hillary Clinton received 80% of the vote in Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh stands with the world & will follow Paris Agreement @HillaryClinton https://t.co/cibJyT7MAK
— bill peduto (@billpeduto) June 1, 2017
As the Mayor of Pittsburgh, I can assure you that we will follow the guidelines of the Paris Agreement for our people, our economy & future. https://t.co/3znXGTcd8C
— bill peduto (@billpeduto) June 1, 2017
And, naturally, he had something to say in general:
As the Mayor of Pittsburgh, I can assure you that we will follow the guidelines of the Paris Agreement for our people, our economy & future. https://t.co/3znXGTcd8C
— bill peduto (@billpeduto) June 1, 2017
Peduto was joined by several fellow mayors in rebutting Trump’s claim that he represents cities, which overwhelmingly voted against Trump in 2016:
The Paris accord was the biggest step forward on climate change that we’d taken in years. It’s unconscionable for @POTUS to abandon it.
— Mayor Eric Adams (@NYCMayor) June 1, 2017
As the Trump administration pulls back, Chicago will push forward & reduce our fair share of carbon emissions in line with the #ParisAccord. pic.twitter.com/N1mrVKKWa7
— Archive: Mayor Rahm Emanuel (@MayorRahm) June 1, 2017
Philly is committed to upholding at local level the same commitment made by the US in the Paris climate agreement https://t.co/WDiVmAMr2d
— Mayor Cherelle L. Parker (@PhillyMayor) June 1, 2017
Statement on the Paris Agreement. #ActOnClimate #ClimateMayors https://t.co/sqoqfHYduC
— Mayor Muriel Bowser (@MayorBowser) June 1, 2017
.@POTUS is walking away from this historic accord and is putting our nation at odds with the rest of the world. #ActOnClimate #ParisAccord
— Michael B. Hancock (@MayorHancock) June 1, 2017
That’s not a minor issue, either. Cities are responsible for 70% of greenhouse gases across the world, so they would need to be on board for any sort of climate change initiative in the first place. Furthermore, there’s little the federal government can do about city-level policy, unless the Trump administration wants to pass a law directly interceding in city business. In other words, in the end, it’ll be the mayors who have the most effect.