By Burlington (VT) Mayor Peter Clavelle
June 7, 2004

In the summer of 2002, Conference President Hempstead (NY) Mayor James A. Garner, Oakland Mayor Jerry Brown and I attended the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg, South Africa. Upon his return from this important event, Garner asked that I chair a task force within the Conference of Mayors dedicated to guiding mayors in their efforts of creating truly sustainable cities.

The Sustainable Development Task force is proud to support the fundamental elements of sustainable development, including the synthesis of environmental stewardship, economic and community development, social equity, affordable housing, and public participation in the governing process. While sustainable development often means many different things to different people, it is clear that most of its aspects are extremely important standing on their own. Sustainability serves to integrate its elements for the benefit of our citizens today and generations into the future.

Bearing these important issues in mind, as chairman of the Conference's Sustainable Development Task Force, I want to encourage your attendance at the Sustainable Communities 2004 conference, which will take place in Burlington from July 14 — 18. The conference will have an interactive, collaborative format in which participants can focus on a variety of issues, including revitalizing local economies, institutionalizing sustainability in cities and towns, participatory governance and the public trust, and a discussion about food, energy, water, construction and transportation. A number of notable speakers will make presentations over the course of the conference, including Vermont Senator Patrick Leahy, and Enrique Penalosa, a former mayor of Bogot‡, Columbia.

The Sustainable Communities 2004 conference promises to equip mayors and other participants with the information and tools they need to lead their cities toward a sustainable future. For more information about the conference, visit the web site at www.global-community.org/conference or call 888-599-1155.