Fighting for Our Future Generations
Columbus City Council Speaks Out Against
Paris Climate Agreement Decision
Federal
leadership made a decision against protecting our environment by announcing the
United States would exit the Paris Climate Agreement. The accord is an
agreement among 195 countries that addresses greenhouse gas emissions
mitigation, adaptation and finance beginning in 2020.
Despite
the decision to leave the agreement, Columbus City Council will continue to
fight to preserve environmental safeguards and grow the renewable energy
economy.
"The
stakes for a healthy environment couldn't be higher. The City of Columbus will
continue to lead on this issue to ensure clean air and clean water now and for
future generations," said Council President Zach Klein. "Withdrawing from the Paris
Climate Agreement is clearly devastating to the environment, but it also
jeopardizes future job opportunities for Columbus workers."
The
“Columbus Way” of private/public partnerships has shown leadership in waste
reduction and conservation. Here are a few examples:
- As part of the Smart City
Challenge Grant, the City was awarded up to $10 million from the Paul G.
Allen Family Foundation to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through four
priority areas: grid modernization, charging infrastructure, consumer
adoption of electric vehicles and incorporation of electric vehicles in
private and public fleets.
- The GreenSpot program
encourages businesses to adopt practices that conserve water and energy,
reduce waste and promote green transportation. Currently, there are nearly
1,000 GreenSpot business members and 14,000 GreenSpot households.
- The Columbus Region Energy Fund is a financing
mechanism that allows Columbus area businesses and non-profits to improve
the energy efficiency of facilities resulting in lower costs in utility
bills. This City project, partnered with AEP Ohio and Columbia Gas,
encourages businesses to become more energy efficient by providing tools
and rebates.
“Left
unchecked, climate change will negatively impact almost every aspect of our
lives. It is an economic issue that will cause massive damage to our
infrastructure,” said Councilmember Elizabeth Brown, chair of the Environment
Committee. “It is a health issue that will harm our most vulnerable
populations. And it is a moral issue that will leave the earth a worse place
for our children.”
City
Council will continue to support several programs that promote environmental
stewardship throughout communities. Programs including:
- The Green Fleet Action Plan
works diligently to reduce the overall carbon footprint of City vehicles
and maintenance. Additionally, its facility has one of the largest solar
arrays in the state installed on the roof.
- Blueprint Columbus focuses
on green solutions to resolve stormwater runoff issues. The City is
building green infrastructure including rain gardens to offset the
runoff in a more environmentally sustainable manner instead
of digging additional tunnels.
- Branch Out Columbus has a goal to plant 300,000 trees
by 2020 and hosted numerous tree giveaways over the last two years.
Additionally, the Glass Act program has worked with over 30 bars and
restaurants downtown to recycle more than 600 tons of glass to date.
“The
City of Columbus will continue to pursue green energy innovation and
infrastructure that drive sustainable growth and create high-quality jobs.
President Trump’s decision to walk away from the Paris Climate Agreement hurts
our local efforts and minimizes our ability to be a global leader in the
field,” Brown continued.
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