The U.S. Conference of Mayors represents 1,139 cities promoting a platform for the development of a national urban policy.

In addition to the ongoing work of the Conference's standing committees, mayors are organized into task forces to examine and act on issues that demand special attention - homeland security, hunger and homelessness, and brownfields for example.

Under the leadership of Conference of Mayors President Long Beach Mayor Beverly O’Neill, more than 100 mayors, business leaders and energy experts gathered in Chicago May 10-11, 2006 for an urgent National Summit on Energy and the Environment to sound an alarm on the country’s energy and environmental challenges and to share innovative “best practices” and strategies that are being initiated at the local level.

With record-level gas prices and rising fuel costs in America, the summit, which was hosted by Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley whose city is one of the “greenest” in the world, covered a broad range of topics, including air quality, climate change, alternative energy sources, alternative vehicles, public transit and green housing and buildings.

Read summaries of the event here.

Read the Energy & Environment Best Practices Guide (pdf) from the summit