May 7, 2013—General Motors is the first U.S. automaker to sign a “Climate Declaration,” which says that responding to climate change is good business.
Participants of the declaration, which is organized by sustainable business advocacy group Ceres, are calling for policymakers to address climate change by promoting clean energy, boosting efficiency and limiting carbon emissions.
“We want to be a change agent in the auto industry,” said Mike Robinson, vice president of sustainability and global regulatory affairs at GM. “As our world faces issues like congestion and climate change, we are at the forefront in transforming the way we move, from building more efficient vehicles to partnering with car-sharing startup Relay Rides.”
The action is in line with GM’s environmental commitment. In March, GM CEO Dan Akerson called on President Obama to appoint a Blue Ribbon Commission to develop a 30-year policy framework for energy security. Worldwide, GM is working toward a goal of reducing energy intensity from its facilities through its voluntary ENERGY STAR Challenge for Industry, which requires facilities to reduce energy intensity by 10 percent within five years.
For more about GM’s sustainability efforts, including their manufacturing commitments, visit gmsustainability.com.
