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City Of Pittsburgh Becomes 2nd City In U.S. To Integrate UN Sustainable Development Goals

On October 4, Pittsburgh Mayor William Peduto announced a public commitment that Pittsburgh-- along with regional along with public, private and nonprofit partners-- will work to meet the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, 17 worldwide goals to eradicate poverty, protect the planet, and improve the quality of life for every human being.

As the second city in the nation to formally integrate these best practices into its goals and policies, Pittsburgh will again mark itself as a leader in achieving a more sustainable and equitable future for all.

New York City last year became the first city in the world to formally adopt the SDGs. Mayor Peduto met with New York Mayor Bill de Blasio while at the UN last week to discuss his administration’s efforts.

“The UN SDGs provide a framework for holding Pittsburgh accountable to a common set of goals that will make it a better and more resilient city for all. Working with stakeholders across the city, these goals will allow us to aid the residents who need our help now and the future generations of Pittsburghers to come,” Mayor Peduto said.

The announcement follows the Mayor’s attendance at a forum at the 74th United Nations General Assembly on September 23rd to discuss regional sustainability accomplishments with Carnegie Mellon University, Chatham University, the University of Pittsburgh and the Pittsburgh Foundation.

Pittsburgh is establishing a partnership network of local, national and international organizations that are working to help measure progress against the Sustainable Development Goals.

The Mayor has aligned the SDGs with local investment areas of the ONEPGH Investment Prospectus, a collection of 46 priority investments funded and implemented with cross-sectoral support to improve livability for all residents by 2030.

Together, with the partnership of institutional, nonprofit, business and civic sectors, the SDGs will be used to shape measurement standards, ensure equitable public engagement, and identify areas of need to allocate public resources.

The UN SDGs are: No Poverty; Zero Hunger; Good Health and Well-being; Quality Education; Gender Equality; Clean Water and Sanitation; Affordable and Clean Energy; Decent Work and Economic Growth; Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure; Reduced Inequality; Sustainable Cities and Communities; Responsible Consumption and Production; Climate Action; Life Below Water; Life on Land; Peace and Justice Strong Institutions; and Partnerships to Achieve the Goal.

In the area of responding to and serving the City’s most vulnerable communities, the Mayor this year formed the Office of Equity, which works with partners to adopt policies and practices to improve livability and resilience in neighborhoods.

The City will measure the success of its comprehensive and neighborhood planning based on its alignment with the UN SDGs, exceeding sustainable development goals outlined in ONEPGH and the Climate Action Plan.

The City is addressing sustainability issues through efforts such as expanding its electric vehicle fleet, constructing separated bike lanes, prioritizing green infrastructure for neighborhoods, incorporating renewable and district energy solutions, and building efficiency into its zoning code incentive programs along riverfronts and in the Uptown EcoInnovation District.

For more information, visit the City of Pittsburgh’s Sustainability & Resilience webpage.

NewsClips:

Pittsburgh Adopts UN Sustainable Development Goals, But Mayor Offers Few Specifics

Pittsburgh Adopts UN Sustainable Development Goals

Pittsburgh Adopts UN Sustainability Goals

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