William Lurie
Business Coalition for Sustainable Cities

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I have been associated with large corporation for more than 40 years: 19 years with General Electric Company, including five years as a Vice President, 10 years with International Paper Company as Vice President and General Counsel, and 10 years as President of The Business Roundtable, whose members include more than 200 of the largest corporations in the United States. There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that large corporations clearly recognize that the long term viability of the business sector is linked to its responsibility to the society of which it is a part.

The business sector, in the United States alone, has already invested hundreds of billions of dollars in new technology, equipment and operating expenses to clean up air and water emissions from its facilities and to modify and improve practices to make them more compatible with maintaining a healthy environment.

At times, the business sector and others have been too confrontational instead of looking for opportunities to work towards common long term objectives. I believe the opportunity for more substantive collaboration exists and that it will allow for substantial further improvement. The Business Coalition for Sustainable Cities and its many member corporations are working in this direction.

In addition, the business sector and its employees pay a very large part of the taxes that enable governments at all levels to plan for and pay for the infrastructure and other needs of sustainable communities. The business sector can also contribute many decades of experience gained in innumerable projects around the world. This experience in the design, engineering, construction and operation of facilities and systems will help governments at all levels to obtain the highest possible value at the lowest possible cost as they plan and implement projects that contribute to sustainable development.

The business sector is a willing, substantial and necessary partner in the continuing search for better ways to improve communities and looks forward to working with governments, NGOs and others to achieve this result. This United Nations conference is an excellent vehicle to help all of us acquire valuable information and to build relationships that lead to planning, design, development and achievement of our mutual objective-more sustainable communities in all parts of the world.

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