May 21, 2007

Mayors are leading the nation on climate protection, embracing new initiatives and launching new programs that respond to the urgent need for us all to protect our planet. To recognize these efforts, The U.S. Conference of Mayors has launched the first Mayors’ Climate Protection Awards, which will be presented during the 75th Annual Meeting from June 22-26 in Los Angeles (CA). The new awards program is jointly sponsored by The United States Conference of Mayors and Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.

All member mayors should have received an application package, but applications are also available on PDF at: usmayors.org. Please note that the deadline to mail in applications is May 25, 2007 (post-marked date).

The awards program will honor exemplary efforts underway by mayors nationwide in the following areas:

• greening of municipal buildings and operations;

• improving local air quality;

• reducing carbon emissions and combating climate change locally;

• increasing the use of energy-efficient products and transportation; and

• supporting green housing projects.

There will be two first-place winners, one small city and one large city, as well as three Outstanding Achievement winners. All winners will receive their award during the U.S. Conference of Mayors’ 75th Annual Meeting in Los Angeles. The five winning cities will be contacted in advance on June 12.

The Awards Program is part of a significant Conference effort to support mayors’ work on climate protection. Conference President Trenton Mayor Douglas H. Palmer and Conference Executive Director Tom Cochran recently launched a full-time Mayors Climate Protection Center that was formed to provide research, tools, and best practices for mayors nationwide, to help curb global warming and reduce carbon emissions in cities.

For more information about the awards, contact Lina Garcia: send e-mail to lgarcia@usmayors.org or phone 2028-61-7835, or Brett Rosenberg: send e-mail to brosenberg@usmayors.org or phone 202-861-6782.

We hope you will apply for this award and look forward to seeing you in Los Angeles in June, during our 75th Anniversary celebration!