September 21, 2007
The Challenge of Global Warming & the Austin Climate Protection Plan
City of Austin Mayor Will Wynn

Talk Details Title: The Challenge of Global Warming & the Austin Climate Protection Plan Speaker: Will Wynn Date: September 21, 2007 Time: 12:00 Noon Location: GSB 3.138

This presentation is fully booked,
no more RSVPs will be accepted.


Summary of Talk
Austin Mayor, Will Wynn has risen to a position of national leadership on energy and climate issues. Since 2004, Mayor Wynn has chaired the Energy Committee of the 1,200-member US Conference of Mayors and in that role has convened four national summits on energy and the environment. He also serves as a key member of the US Mayors Committee on Climate Protection.

Wynn recently returned from New York City, where he addressed mayors and business leaders from the world’s 40 largest cities at the C40 Climate Summit. In February, Mayor Wynn unveiled and the Austin City Council adopted the Austin Climate Protection Plan – the most ambitious municipal climate protection plan in the country. The Austin Climate Protection Plan will make Austin, Texas the leading city in the nation in the fight against global warming. The broad elements of the plan to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions include: Municipal, Utility, Homes and Buildings, Community,and “Go Neutral”.

Biosketch
Will Wynn was elected Austin’s 50th Mayor in 2003 and re-elected in 2006 with over 78% of the vote.

Will Wynn has deep family roots in Austin and Central Texas. Two of his great-great-great grandparents, James and Julia Olive, settled in southern Williamson County in 1843. His great-grandfather, Daniel LeMaster of McDade, was the state representative for Bastrop County in the 1920s. Will's great-uncle, Ridley Ott, built and managed the Checker Front General Store, now FreshPlus, at 43rd and Duval in Hyde Park during the 1930s and 40s.

Some of his family's history in Central Texas can be seen in several books by J. Frank Dobie, including "Cow People" and "The Longhorns"; "The Ladder of Rivers" by Harry Chrisman; "Black Cowboys of Texas" by Sara Massey, "Four on a Limb" and "I'll Die Before I'll Run" by C.L. Sonnichsen; and "The Shooters" by Leon Metz.

Born and raised in the deep north end of Beaumont, Will was the sixth of seven children, and the fifth of six boys. He attended Texas A&M University, graduating in 1984 with a degree in Environmental Design. He first moved "back" to Austin in 1981. Will is the proud father of two daughters ages 11 and 8.

Will has over 20 years of experience in the commercial real estate industry, with projects large and small. In 1997, Will founded CIVITAS Investments, Inc. to focus on historic restoration projects. He is a member of the Urban Land Institute and believes that only through dramatically better land use practices can Austin and the surrounding region appropriately deal with challenges like traffic, air quality, housing affordability and environmental protection. In 2001, he was one of the founding members of, what became, Envision Central Texas. Will has also worked over the years to build support for numerous local causes and organizations.

In addition to his many duties locally, Will has risen to a leadership position with the U.S. Conference of Mayors organization. As chair of the USCM Energy Committee, he is helping to drive national debate on federal energy policy and climate protection.

Prior to first being elected to Austin City Council in 2000, Will served as Chair of the Downtown Austin Alliance, and has long been a leading advocate for transforming downtown Austin into the most vibrant urban core in the country.

Will was named Austinite of the Year by Austin Under Forty (back when he was under 40); was awarded Scenic Austin's first annual Scenic Hero Award; was named Energy Executive of the Year by the Association of Energy Engineers; is a Distinguished Alumni of Texas A & M’s College of Architecture; and, following Austin’s response to Hurricane Katrina, was named Local Public Official of the Year by the National Association of Social Workers.

Will Wynn claims to know every word to every Guy Clark song ever recorded and challenges you to stump him. Good Luck.