Treasurer Torsella Joins Nationwide Effort To Remain In Paris Climate Accord

HARRISBURG, Pa., July 10, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Pennsylvania Treasurer Joe Torsella today signed an open letter to the international community and parties to the Paris climate accord, sending a clear message that despite the Trump administration's decision to withdraw the U.S. from the agreement, a growing number of state and local officials remain committed to fighting climate change.

"The decision to withdraw from the Paris climate accord was one of the most foolish and shortsighted actions taken by the Trump Administration thus far," said Torsella. "Climate change represents a catastrophic threat to Pennsylvania if we do not take action. But it also represents a chance to make wise investments that help avoid disaster and bring returns to taxpayers."

Earlier this month President Trump announced he would withdraw the U.S. from the Paris climate accord, in which 196 nations came together in 2015 for a historic agreement to support actions to reduce carbon emissions. As the "We're Still In" letter says, "it is local and state governments, along with businesses, that are primarily responsible for the dramatic decrease in [US] greenhouse gas emissions in recent years. Actions by each group will multiply and accelerate in the years ahead, no matter what policies Washington may adopt." A copy of the open letter is available here.

In Pennsylvania, the Treasury Department has partnered with the Foundation for Renewable Energy and Environment to establish PennSEF, which promotes energy and water efficiency, clean energy generation, economic development and environment improvement. The PennSEF program provides technical and legal assistance along with access to low-cost capital for projects undertaken by municipalities, universities, schools and hospitals. 

"Pennsylvania must continue on a course that is both fiscally responsible and embraces the future health and welfare of the commonwealth," said Torsella. "The Pennsylvania Sustainable Energy Finance Program (PennSEF) is a powerful tool Treasury is using to make wise investments for taxpayers that help the environment as well."

For more information on the PennSEF program, please visit its website at http://freefutures.org/pennsef/ or contact Pennsylvania Treasury at (717) 772-1830.

Media contact: Heidi Havens, Treasury, 717-787-2991 or [email protected].

Pennsylvania Treasury
Joe Torsella, State Treasurer

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The Pennsylvania Treasury is an independent department of state government led by the state treasurer, who is elected every four years. The department's primary duty is to safeguard and manage the state's public funds. It invests state money to generate income on behalf of the citizens of Pennsylvania, reviews and processes payments for state government custodian of more than $100 billion in state funds. Key Treasury programs include Unclaimed Property, PA 529 College Savings Program and the Board of Finance and Revenue. To learn more visit patreasury.gov.

SOURCE Pennsylvania Treasury Department