FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tim Becker
Timothy.Becker@portlandoregon.gov
Mayor Ted Wheeler joins global coalition to tackle climate crisis
Portland General Electric and TriMet join Mayor Wheeler in a public/private partnership to advance clean energy
Mayor Ted Wheeler will join mayors from around the world as they gather alongside scientists, global community leaders and business executives at the 2019 C40 World Mayors Summit being held in Copenhagen, Denmark Oct. 9-12. Following the momentum from the Climate Strike last month, this gathering continues the global attention and urgency towards addressing the climate crisis. Attendees are convening to share ideas, lessons learned, launch new partnerships and promote creative urban solutions to curb climate change.
“The City of Portland continues to be among those committed to—and leading action for—addressing the climate crisis. We were the first city in the U.S. to adopt a climate action plan in 1993 and we have been working to reduce carbon emissions ever since,” Mayor Wheeler said. “The C40 Summit offers us the opportunity to learn from other innovating cities about new ways to reduce our carbon footprint and intensify local actions to address the climate emergency.”
Mayor Wheeler will also take the stage to share Portland’s continuing strategy and efforts to become more resilient to the impacts of climate change and to cut carbon pollution, including recognition of the community-led initiative that established the Portland Clean Energy Fund. Leadership and action from the energy and transportation sector will play a major role in addressing the climate crisis, and Mayor Wheeler is grateful that leaders from PGE and TriMet have accepted his invitation to join the City of Portland at the C40 Summit to collaborate effectively, learn more about climate innovations in other cities and together drive more meaningful, measurable and bold action on climate change.
“TriMet stands in partnership with Mayor Wheeler and PGE to fight climate change, and we vow to work together to achieve the region’s climate goals. Transit is part of the solution to our global climate crisis,” TriMet General Manager Doug Kelsey said. “It will take all of us doing big things, like converting to a non-diesel bus fleet, and the smallest of things, like taking one extra transit trip a week to make a difference. I look forward to hearing and sharing innovative ideas at the C40 World Mayors Summit that will help advance efforts to improve the health of our community and lessen our impact on the earth.”
“PGE is proud to join City of Portland and TriMet at the C40 Summit to collaborate globally with other thought leaders on strategies for delivering a clean energy future,” said Maria Pope, President and CEO of Portland General Electric. “United by a common purpose and a public/private partnership, we are committed to building affordable, resilient and clean energy communities.”
To offset the impact of air travel by City of Portland delegates and support staff, the City has chosen to purchase carbon offsets from Port Blakely’s Winston Creek Forest Project in Washington State. The City is purchasing the offsets from the Winston Creek project managed by the Bonneville Environmental Foundation (BEF). BEF is not for profit and sales of carbon offsets provide a source of revenue to support these programs rather than going to a bottom line.
Representing 700+ million people and one quarter of the global economy in an unprecedented gathering, mayors of the C40 cities are committed to delivering on the most ambitious goals for tackling climate change and taking immediate, inclusive climate action.
What: C40 World Mayors Summit
When: Copenhagen, Denmark
Where: Oct. 9 – Oct. 12, 2019
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