By Lina Garcia
November 19, 2007

Leaders of The U.S. Conference of Mayors held an opening press conference to highlight priorities to be discussed during the convening of more than 100 mayors, and to announce that 710 mayors had signed The U.S. Conference of Mayors Climate Protection Agreement as the Summit opened. Collectively, mayors backing the agreement represent 25 percent of the total U.S. population. Conference leaders also emphasized the importance of strengthening federal, non-profit and private sector partnerships in order to successfully reduce the carbon footprint in cities.

At the press event, Conference President Trenton Mayor Douglas H. Palmer was joined by Conference Vice President Miami Mayor Manuel A. Diaz, Conference Advisory Board Chair Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels, the Summit’s host mayor, and Austin Mayor Will Wynn, Chair of the Conference’s Energy Committee.

Welcoming the mayors and other national leaders on climate protection, Conference President Palmer stated, “We’re very pleased to be joined by leading mayors, and President Bill Clinton and Vice President Al Gore — two of America’s top pioneers on climate protection — to work on a united front during this historic gathering. Mayors are already leading on this issue, but must figure out a way to accelerate what they are doing in cities across the country to increase climate protection; and there’s no better way to do so than to partner with national leaders on this mutual challenge.”

“This summit will highlight how cities can lead the way in the fight against global warming,” said Nickels. “It’s not just the unprecedented number of mayors at this summit who are showing real leadership, but the hundreds of other cities across America that are working to reduce greenhouse gas pollution in their own communities. Together we are making a real difference for the future of our cities and the planet.”

Underscoring the importance of a stronger partnership with the federal government, Wynn delivered the message that Congress needs to enact the Energy Block Grant program that has been approved by both the House and the Senate and is awaiting final action. This initiative is important to cities working to expand their climate protection efforts, especially those who are challenged with budget constraints.

At the press conference, Palmer announced the formation of a new Climate Protection Council to be housed within The U.S. Conference of Mayors’ Climate Protection Center, to underscore the relationship needed between mayors and business leaders to accelerate green projects. “Strengthening and beginning new partnerships with the private sector will define the success of our carbon footprint reduction in our cities and we highly thank our new charter members for their support,” said Palmer. The seven Charter Members of the new Council include: The Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers; American Chemistry Council; DuPont; Johnson Controls, Inc.; TCP, Inc.; Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.; and Waste Management, Inc.

Palmer also discussed the role of green jobs in helping accelerate the greening of American cities, which underpins the future of the country’s economic growth. According to Palmer, the Conference plans to unveil an economic proposal for the next President and new Congress in January 2008, which will point to the opportunity that green jobs will create for our working class and the unemployed.