By Conference Vice President Miami Mayor Manny Diaz
April 23, 2007

When it comes to response, America’s cities respond in a manner unequalled by any other level of government. It was true of homeland security, and as is most evident across the country and on Capitol Hill, it is true of Global Climate Change.

The response of America’s mayors and cities to the Kyoto Accords on greenhouse gas emissions and global warming are perhaps best seen in the Mayors Climate Protection Agreement and the Mayors 2030 Building Challenge. With the leadership of our Conference President Trenton Mayor Doug Palmer, the energy-environment imperative tops our 10-Point Priority Plan for America’s cities. This is the result of our legacy and collective actions.

Sustainable Development was a core theme of the Conference presidency of Hempstead Mayor Jim Garner in 2003 and thanks to the demonstrated leadership of our colleagues Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels, Albuquerque Mayor Martin Chavez, Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley, Austin Mayor Will Wynn, Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino, Salt Lake City Mayor Rocky Anderson, Conference Partner of the Ed Mazria American Institute of Architects, and many, many more, the cities of America are rallying and responding. We are doing our part to eliminate greenhouse gas emissions, preserve our natural environment and alleviate the ever-growing energy crisis by implementing far reaching energy efficiency standards and renewable energy utilization.

Mayors are uniquely aware that making our cities the beacons of American livability is impossible without the active participation of our cities’ financial institutions. They are critical partners in the long-term sustainability of America’s cities.

On March 27, Miami’s Union Credit Bank (UCB) became the first and only Florida licensed banking institution to become a signatory of the United Nations Environment Program Finance Initiative (UNEPFI). Equally significant, it is the only community bank in the United States to adopt UNEPFI’s sustainable development principles. I was privileged to share the occasion of the signing of the Protocol Agreement here in Miami with Brennan Van Dyke, Regional Director, United Nations Environmental Program, North America; Miguel Rishmague, UCB Chairman; and Fernando Capablanca, UCB President and CEO.

UNEPFI is a global partnership between the UNEP and the financial sector. Over 160 financial institutions from around the globe are signatories to the UNEPFI principles, but only nine are from the United States. UCB is a community bank founded only six years ago in Miami. It cares deeply about our environment and is committed to doing whatever it can to promote energy efficiency programs and standards, green homes and green buildings. UCB firmly believes that sustainable development is instrinsic to sound business management. The bank protects itself from potentially damaging environmental problems while addressing the larger needs of Miami’s residents and communities. To the extent that a client’s business risk decreases, so does the risk to the bank.”

Financial institutions are under closer scrutiny than ever before. Investors and regulators are increasingly asking challenging questions about corporate governance, the social and environmental impact of business decisions, and how far institutions go to support their local communities. UCB has provided a clear answer to these questions by taking this step.

As part of it’s commitment, UCB is promoting a series of programs designed to foster energy conservation and reward “green thinking” including the following:

• lower rates and extended financing on home equity lines of credit when the home is certified to meet certain standards of the U.S. Green Building Council or the Florida Green Building Coalition. Owner-occupied homes, including second homes, may qualify if the property is certified to have a minimum number of energy efficient or environmentally-friendly features;

• special financing terms and conditions to businesses providing environmentally-friendly products and services as well as to manufacturers of energy efficient equipment and materials; and,

• special favorable terms for hybrid car loans to qualified credit applicants.

These are only some samples of what UCB is doing and they are exploring new green ideas all the time. Union Credit Bank’s motto is “The Little Bank That Does”, and it is doing it for the environment, for small business and for the city and community it serves. America’s cities are doing it. We can do more with America’s financial institutions as our partners.

For more information on Green Banking and the work of Union Credit Bank please contact F. Capablanca at 305-398-9065 or fac@ucbmiami.com or Sandra Rishmague at 305-398-9065 or srishmague@ucbmiami.com