Quitting Paris deal for us? No thanks, says Pittsburgh mayor

Donald Trump said he was championing the people of Pittsburgh by leaving the Paris climate accord. But the city's Mayor Bill Peduto did not take kindly to the shout-out.

Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto speaks during a news conference

Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto speaks during a news conference. Source: AAP

In announcing his pullout from a deal that failed to "put America first," the US president on Thursday cited the northeastern city saying: "I was elected to represent the citizens of Pittsburgh, not Paris".

But Peduto took issue with Trump's invocation of his city.

"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," he posted in one of a feisty series of tweets that swiftly went viral.
The president's decision to quit the 196-party accord sparked indignation at home and abroad, with former president Barack Obama saying the United States was "joining a handful of nations that reject the future". 

Peduto echoed that criticism, tweeting: "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." 

Trump went on to declare: "It is time to put Youngstown, Ohio; Detroit, Michigan; and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania - along with many other great locations in our country - before Paris, France."
But Pittsburgh is hardly a depressed post-industrial hub in need of a savior - it has experienced a striking rebirth in recent years.

Peduto stressed that Pittsburgh was far removed from the Rust Belt cities that helped propel the Republican businessman to the White House.

"Fact: Hillary Clinton received 80% of the vote in Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh stands with the world & will follow Paris Agreement," he tweeted.

Watch: 'US climate deal withdrawal is a mistake': Macron


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Published 2 June 2017 10:32am
Source: AFP


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