The White House announced May 28 that it selected Pittsburgh to host the next G20 summit for global economic leaders to assemble on September 24 and 25.
Dedicated to a reformation from its industrial past, Pittsburgh was selected due to its "commitment to employing new and green technology to further economic recovery and development," the White House said. Another major considering was the fact that the city’s David L. Lawrence Convention Center has received LEED Gold Certification from the U.S. Green Building Council and is the largest convention center in the world to earn that distinction.
Green Ways
Under a new smart transportation initiative by Pennsylvania, the Pittsburgh region will be allocated almost $15 million in state and federal funding to ease traffic and promote safety for bicyclers and pedestrians as well as developing public transit.
In Pittsburgh, money has been allotted to improve streetscapes and sidewalks and install streetlights. The Allegheny County Public Works will receive $500,000 to build pedestrian and bicycle trails and the county's Department of Economic Development will get $300,000 to study ways to make walking and biking more fundamental.
The Post Gazette reported that more green roofs are being implemented on top of Pittsburgh buildings, which serve to reduce storm water runoff and energy use, as well as cool the building interior. Numerous green roofs have been installed on buildings across Pittsburgh and on the campuses of Carnegie Mellon University and the University of Pittsburgh.
Pittsburgh Green Innovators, a sustainable collaborative, has plans to redevelop the Connelly Center as a national center for sustainable technology and research. The plan includes education, workforce training and an incubator for green startup companies.
The city has also been ranked tenth in places to walk by Prevention Magazine. Also, in October, the Nature Conservancy opened a branch office in Pittsburgh based on the city’s green initiatives, proximity to forests and rivers, and access to public transportation.
