Mayors of Pittsburgh, Paris team up for climate change op-ed

The mayors of Pittsburgh and Paris joined forces to reaffirm their support of the Paris climate deal Wednesday, days after President Trump cited the cities while announcing his plans to pull out of the agreement.

“As the mayors of Pittsburgh and Paris, we’re here to say that we’re more united than ever,” Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo and Pittsburgh Mayor William Peduto (D) wrote in a New York Times op-ed.

“The only way to do right by Pittsburghers and Parisians is to abide by the principles of the Paris Agreement, which guarantees the future health and prosperity of both of our cities — and every other city in the world,” they wrote.

{mosads}The op-ed comes a week after Trump justified his decision to pull the U.S. out of the climate change accord by saying, “I was elected to represent the citizens of Pittsburgh, not Paris.”

“As Mayor of Pittsburgh, I was elected to represent the citizens of Pittsburgh, not Paris,” Peduto responded in the op-ed.

“As Mayor of Paris, I was elected to represent the citizens of Paris, not Pittsburgh,” Hidalgo added.

The two went on to call for unity in honoring the climate deal, despite Trump’s final decision.

This is not the only time Peduto has fired back at the president’s comment on the deal. Last week he tweeted, “Pittsburgh stands with the world & will follow Paris Agreement.” 

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

The mayor also said it was up to cities to lead in the wake of Trump’s decision. 

The United States joins Syria, Nicaragua & Russia in deciding not to participate with world’s Paris Agreement. It’s now up to cities to lead

— bill peduto (@billpeduto) June 1, 2017

Peduto issued an executive order last week committing Pittsburgh to working with other cities across the U.S. to meet the goal of reducing global temperatures by 1.5 degrees Celsius, and advance carbon neutrality goals throughout the city.