General Motors signs Climate Declaration in support of clean energy and emissions reduction

General Motors is the first car manufacturer among the major US companies to sign a 'Climate Declaration', and has asserted that acting on climate change is good business.

The initiative has been organised by sustainablity advocacy group Ceres and its Business for Innovative Climate & Energy Policy (BICEP) coalition and GM's participation was announced at the Ceres Conference in California. GM has worked with Ceres for over two decades to refine its sustainability strategies and performance.

Supporters of the Declaration are calling for policymakers to address climate change by promoting clean energy, boosting energy efficiency and limiting carbon emissions.

Mike Robinson, GM vice-president of sustainability and global regulatory affairs, has stated how GM is aiming to lead efforts in the auto industry to address congestion, carbon emissions and climate change.

GM's environmental commitment has been recognised recently with the American Carbon Registry's Corporate Excellence Award for demonstrated commitment to reducing its carbon footprint and mitigating climate impact and an EPA Energy Star Partner of the Year Award for Sustained Excellence, the organisation's highest recognition for corporate energy management.

GM has 54 facilities that meet the voluntary Energy Star Challenge for Industry, which requires facilities to reduce energy intensity by 10 per cent within five years. The GM facilities cut energy intensity by an average of 26 per cent which saves the company US$90 million in energy costs.

GM is also the number one automotive user of solar power in the U.S and hosts two of the five largest rooftop solar arrays in the world.