DETROIT, Mich. -- Bowing to pressure from a bloc of shareholders, Ford has become the
first automaker to detail its strategy to reduce its fleet's greenhouse
gas emissions 30 percent by 2020.
Last month, the company shared its plans with investors that
included religious and activist groups, such as the $100 billion-strong
Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility and Ceres-directed
Investor Network on Climate Risk, which represents assets of around $5
trillion. The Connecticut State Treasury also is a participating
shareholder.
Ford is not the only automaker to find itself in the cross-hairs of
activist shareholders. General Motors is also being urged to follow in
Ford's footsteps; a resolution brought by the Dominicans of Caldwell
could be voted on in June.
"The target is not even the win here; Ford has wrestled with
carious analyses to arrive at reduction goals," said Sister Patricia
Daly, representative of the Sisters of St. Dominic of Caldwell, N.J., a
lead resolution filer. "No other company has entered into this
discipline ... Even as a leader in the 'carbon club' Ford opens the
door for other companies and industries to target reductions."
The target falls in line with recent auto mileage legislation put
in place to improve fuel economy to 35 miles per gallon by 2020. The
company said it would be unable to meet tougher limits for 2016 being
sought by California.
See ClimateBiz.com