FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 23, 2004

MAYOR HARRIS TO ADDRESS ASIA-PACIFIC LEADERS ON
SUSTAINABLE CITIES 

Mayor Jeremy Harris left for Hong Kong today (February 23) to attend a United Nations environmental conference, and will address Asia-Pacific leaders Wednesday on the topic of sustainable cities. 

The Asia-Pacific Leadership Forum—convened jointly by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs and the government of the People’s Republic of China—brings together leaders from city governments, the scientific community, professional institutions and business to explore ways of implementing sustainable development at the municipal level. 

Mayor Harris is the only elected city leader from the United States who will address the prestigious gathering.  Dignitaries attending the conference include Madame Wu Yi, Vice-Premier of the People’s Republic of China, Mr. José Antonio Ocampo, UN Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs, and Mr. Keshav Varma, the World Bank’s Sector Director for Urban Issues in East Asia.

The Mayor’s presentation, “Sustainable Cities of the Future,” outlines the environmental challenges facing the world’s cities and offers a prescription for addressing those challenges based upon sustainable initiatives that have been successfully implemented in Honolulu.

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