SAN ANTONIO – The San Antonio City Council approved a resolution in support of the Paris Climate Agreement and the Mayor’s National Climate Action Agenda during a meeting Thursday morning.
More than 20 citizens of San Antonio spoke in regards to the Pairs climate agreement during the meeting.
After President Donald Trump’s withdrawal from the agreement on climate change, several mayors across the nation have joined to support it.
“If you listen to experts, whether they are doctors or scientists or experts around the world, they are clear on one thing: Climate preparedness is an economic priority, an environmental priority. It’s a priority for national defense,” Mayor Ron Nirenberg said.
The Paris climate agreement commits to exploring the potential benefits, plus the cost to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The new mayor said the city is already ahead of the curve.
“This means we are going to continue to work and continue to do the things we have been doing to establish more sustainability within our systems. CPS (Energy) has been advancing a renewable portfolio. We are going to continue to work on that,” Nirenberg said. “We know we have a ton of work to do on building a modern transportation. That's an element of this. Council has been working on an early action air quality plan. All that work will continue. It’s very important that we know things are moving in a different direction in the state and federal government on these issues. San Antonio will remain a leader.”
District 10 Councilman Clayton Perry voted against the resolution.
“I didn’t really have an opportunity to, and I have not had the opportunity to, go back and talk with the people in District 10,” Perry said.
Another council member already made promises following the vote on the resolution.
“Even though this is going to be a long, a deliberative process with the community, with the leaders, I am going to push for small actions and quick actions that are kind of the no-brainers, the low-hanging fruit. There are plenty of those to go around,” District 7 Councilwoman Ana Sandoval said.
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