PRINTER'S NO. 2112
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No.
421
Session of
2017
INTRODUCED BY KRUEGER-BRANEKY, JUNE 22, 2017
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES AND ENERGY,
JUNE 22, 2017
A RESOLUTION
Urging the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to join the United
States Climate Alliance in response to the United States'
withdrawal from the Paris Agreement.
WHEREAS, The Paris Agreement unified nations of the world to
address climate change; and
WHEREAS, This historic agreement, which was adopted in 2015,
was comprised of 195 countries, showing the growing concern of
climate change; and
WHEREAS, The key goals of the Paris Agreement were to keep
global temperatures down and limit greenhouse gases emitted by
human activity; and
WHEREAS, The Paris Agreement was the first step to providing
a long-term plan for balancing greenhouse gas emissions; and
WHEREAS, On June 1, 2017, President Trump announced that the
United States would withdraw from the Paris Agreement; and
WHEREAS, In response to the United States' withdrawal, the
United States Climate Alliance was formed by the states of
California, New York and Washington and the states have agreed
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
to uphold the elements of the Paris Agreement on climate change;
and
WHEREAS, Within a few days of its formation, 10 additional
states and territories, including Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii,
Massachusetts, Minnesota, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont and
Virginia and the territory of Puerto Rico joined the United
States Climate Alliance; and
WHEREAS, Members of the United States Climate Alliance are
committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by between 26%
and 28% of 2005 levels and meeting or exceeding the goals of the
Federal Clean Power Plan; and
WHEREAS, Some of the largest businesses operating in the
United States, including Apple, Facebook, Google, Microsoft,
PG&E Corporation and Unilever have urged President Trump to
remain a signatory of the Paris Agreement citing its economic
benefits; and
WHEREAS, More than 1,200 local officials, businesses and
educational institutions have also stated that they will uphold
the elements of the Paris Agreement; and
WHEREAS, Mayor Bill Peduto of Pittsburgh has come forward in
support of upholding the agreement; and
WHEREAS, According to Mayor Peduto, "Pittsburgh is the
example of why the Paris agreement is good for economic
development: such work is good for business too"; and
WHEREAS, Mayor Peduto also stated, "We've rebuilt our
economy on the future and our people, not the past"; and
WHEREAS, Climate change is a growing threat to our health,
environment, economy and future; and
WHEREAS, It is in the best interests of the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania to join the United States Climate Alliance to
20170HR0421PN2112 - 2 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
continue to move forward in addressing climate change and
stimulating economic growth and job creation from the increase
of energy efficiency and the use of renewable energy sources;
therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania urge the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania to join the United States Climate Alliance in
response to the United States' withdrawal from the Paris
Agreement; and be it further
RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to
the President of the United States, the Governor, the presiding
officers of each house of Congress and each member of Congress
from Pennsylvania.
20170HR0421PN2112 - 3 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13