By Lina Garcia
June 4, 2007

The United States Conference of Mayors has partnered with Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. after the worldwide retailer has taken a renewed focus to help reduce global warming in communities nationwide. The new partnership seeks to reward and encourage local leaders to reduce carbon emissions in cities, by launching a Mayors’ Climate Protection Awards Program. The partnership was formally announced by Conference President Trenton Mayor Douglas H. Palmer, Conference Executive Director Tom Cochran and Wal-Mart Public Affairs Director Daphne Davis Moore, during a press event at the annual International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) convention in Las Vegas on May 21.

The annual ICSC Convention, where the partnership between the Conference and Wal-Mart was officially announced, is attended by thousands of international business and retail leaders each year, as well as mayors who jointly discuss current opportunities and challenges in urban markets.

“Mayors and business leaders have one thing in common, we’re both responsible for initiating trends and changing human behavior in cities which ultimately impacts our shared environment,” said Palmer. “I highly commend Wal-Mart for their partnership on this awards program, and for their socially responsible actions to support the communities they serve. ”

“The Mayors’ Climate Protection Awards will help us reward and encourage our country’s mayors to adopt environmentally-friendly practices into their city’s everyday operations,” Moore. “We’re very proud to be working alongside the U.S. Conference of Mayors because mayors are current leaders in protecting our environment and together we can help people live better.”

“Our U.S. Conference of Mayors and Wal-Mart partnership also represents the importance of forming public-private partnerships to activate mayors and business owners to work cohesively to help protect our planet,” said Cochran. “We’re delighted that Wal-Mart has taken the initiative to work with mayors on this very important issue.”

The Mayors’ Climate Protection Awards program will specifically honor exemplary efforts underway by mayors nationwide in numerous areas including the greening of municipal buildings and operations and combating climate change locally.

An independent panel of judges will select the winners of the 2007 Mayors’ Climate Protection Awards and winners will be honored during The U.S. Conference of Mayors’ 75th annual meeting in June, 2007 in Los Angeles.

To visit The U.S. Conference of Mayors’, Mayors Climate Protection Center and view a list of energy and environmental best practices by cities, go to the website: http://usmayors.org/climateprotection/. To see the positive impact that Wal-Mart’s environmental programs are already having on communities, visit the website: http://walmartstores.com/microsite/walmart_sustainability.html.