Ford has become the first automaker to join The Climate Registry. Ford recently became the first U.S. auto company to spell out how it plans to reach the goal of reducing by at least 30 percent the greenhouse gas emissions from its new vehicle fleet by 2020.
Last month the Climate Registry released its General Reporting Protocol, an agreement among its member states and provinces on how greenhouse gas emissions will be voluntarily reported by its member organizations.
As of last month, 75 corporations, non-profit organizations, cities and counties report greenhouse gas emissions to the registry, which was begun last year with an agreement among five states. Soon after, 31 states came aboard as charter members.
“We endorse the TCR’s reporting process because it has adopted the WRI/WBCSD reporting structure, which will ultimately lead to a common, single reporting standard worldwide,” said Larry Merritt, manager, Global Environmental Policy, Ford Motor Company. “A single reporting standard is easier for its members and administrators to manage and more cost effective than developing new tools on a state-by-state basis.”
Last month’s decision to release its plans to reduce GHG emissions came in the wake of climate-related shareholder resolutions put forward by members of the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility and the Investor Network on Climate Risk.
To become a TCR member, Ford must demonstrate environmental stewardship in several areas by voluntarily committing to measure, independently verify and publicly report GHG emissions on an annual basis utilizing TCR’s General Reporting Protocol.