County leaders push for inclusive climate action plan

During a recent government meeting, representatives from the Climate Action Plan and Environmental Justice Coalition presented a series of requests aimed at enhancing the development of Allegheny County's Climate Action Plan (CAP). The coalition expressed gratitude to Anita Bricio, chair of the committee on sustainability and green initiatives, for initiating the formation of the CAP, which is set to be developed by July 2024.

The coalition voiced support for an ordinance amendment proposed by Chair Pizzio, which seeks to extend the deadline for the CAP and facilitate a committee meeting to gather further insights. They emphasized the importance of an inclusive and accessible public planning process, urging the county council to take several specific actions.

Key recommendations included urging the Department of Sustainability to engage support service providers with proven expertise in inclusive public processes, prioritizing environmental justice and accountability. The coalition also called for the establishment of a CAP task force or community advisory board, ensuring substantial representation from local environmental justice leaders and communities disproportionately affected by climate change and historical environmental racism.

Furthermore, they advocated for empowering this community task force with significant authority over the CAP's public process, evaluation of service providers, drafting, implementation, and funding. The coalition highlighted their commitment to environmental justice throughout all stages of the CAP planning and implementation, referencing a document outlining their accountability priorities and a letter signed by 32 organizations supporting their inclusive process.

The coalition plans to submit these documents in written form to further support their initiatives and foster collaboration with the Department of Sustainability.