Allegheny County to draft climate action plan

Western Pennsylvania’s largest county will develop a climate action plan to lay out its goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Allegheny County Council voted 15-0 on Tuesday to pass an ordinance compelling the county’s Department of Sustainability to draft a climate action plan by next July 1.

Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald supports the ordinance and will sign it, his spokesperson said.

The ordinance’s sponsor, Councilwoman Anita Prizio, D-O’Hara, said she was pleased to see the bill garner unanimous support.

She said the plan is to ensure young people have a safe world to live in.

“We have to be bold, and we have to be actionable,” Prizio said.

Allegheny County’s plan would be akin to the city of Pittsburgh’s and the state of Pennsylvnania’s, which both layout strategies and goals to lower greenhouse gas emissions.

They would do so by using electric vehicles, increasing buildings’ efficiency through land use changes, boosting alternative transportation like bikes and public transit, and more.

The city of Pittsburgh is seeking to lower greenhouse gas emissions to 50% of 2003 levels by 2030.

Prizio said details of Allegheny County’s plan will be worked out going forward, but she hopes to see similar goals.

About 20 residents spoke in favor of the ordinance, saying the region is already facing larger storms, floods, and poor air quality as a result of climate change and industrial pollution. They said mitigating these factors will lead to larger bills for municipalities.

Matt Mehalik of the environmental advocacy group the Breathe Project said the ongoing use of fossil fuels is responsible for the county’s poor air quality issues and is making climate change worse. Before the vote, he urged the council to create a climate action plan.

“The more our country’s leaders do to address this ongoing crisis, the better,” he said. “It is time for Allegheny County to set a course to reduce our emissions.”

Councilwoman Michelle Naccarati-Chapkis, D-Plum, said climate change was a moment of crisis, citing global heat records this summer. She said a climate action plan will act as a director for the future.

“For the sake of our community health, we must not delay action,” she said.

Fitzgerald spokeswoman Amie Downs said the county executive has worked for the last 12 years to lower the county’s carbon footprint and has been proactive in sustainability goals. She said he will sign the bill.

Prizio acknowledged the county government has taken steps over the years to reduce the county government’s greenhouse gas emissions, but has yet to create an official climate action plan.

She lauded Allegheny County government for embracing hydro-electric power, moving the county’s electricity generation to 100% renewable energy sources, and installing a green roof on top of Allegheny County Courthouse.

Prizio said the plan is a first step. She expects a more thorough community input process once the Department of Sustainability starts to draft the plan.