General Motors Vice President Elected Chair of World Environment Center

DETROIT - The World Environment Center (WEC) has named Elizabeth A. Lowery, GM vice president of Environment and Energy, as chairperson of its board of directors for a two year term beginning in January 2005. Lowery previously served as a member of the board at the Center, which strives to build bridges and share best practices on environmental, energy and sustainability issues among companies and countries across the globe.

Lowery replaces James C. Lime, vice president of Corporate Environment, Health and Safety at Pfizer, Inc.

“I am honored to have been chosen to lead the board of this tremendous organization, which has been key in promoting outstanding methods for sustainable development,” said Lowery. “I applaud Jim for his enthusiastic leadership during his tenure as chair. His accomplishments have helped to build new collaborations and strengthen existing ones.”

Lowery is the second GM executive to be elected to the position; Dr. Betsy Ancker-Johnson, former GM vice president of Environmental Activities, was chairperson of the WEC from 1988 to 1990.

“GM’s decades-long involvement with the World Environmental Center is due in large part to GM’s strong commitment to exploring and building on best practices to improve the environment,” said Lowery. “Working with the board and members of the WEC, I am looking forward to exploring new opportunities for collaboration and expanding the WEC’s capacity building projects worldwide.”

Lowery joined GM in 1989, and currently serves as vice president of Environment and Energy and secretary of the Public Policy committee of the GM board of directors. She is committed to increasing awareness of environmental education, as well as fostering partnerships through several organizations, including the WEC. She serves on the board of Haven, a nonprofit organization that works to create violence-free homes and communities. Lowery also chairs the Women's Leadership Forum, which focuses on areas critical to leadership effectiveness, personal growth, and advancement of women in the workplace and, in 2004, she was elected one of Detroit ’s most enterprising women by the Detroit Historical Society.

About the WEC

Founded in 1974 with funding from the United Nations Environment Programme, the WEC is an independent, not-for-profit, non-advocacy organization. Working with the private sector, international organizations, non-governmental organizations and academia, the WEC promotes sustainable development by encouraging environmental leadership, improving health and safety practices worldwide, and fostering the efficient use of natural resources to protect the global environment. The WEC supports its mission through three central programs: the International Environment Forum (IEF); the WEC Gold Medal Award; and Capacity Building Programs. For more information about the WEC, please visit www.wec.org

General Motors Corp. , the world’s largest automaker, has been the global industry sales leader since 1931. Founded in 1908, GM today employs about 324,000 people around the world. It has manufacturing operations in 32 countries and its vehicles are sold in 200 countries. In 2004, GM sold nearly 9 million cars and trucks globally, up 4 percent and the second-highest total in the company’s history. GM’s global headquarters are at the GM Renaissance Center in Detroit . More information on GM can be found at www.gm.com. GM’s corporate responsibility web site, www.gmability.com, contains additional information about GM’s environmental and philanthropic initiatives.