Ford becomes Founding Reporter of the new voluntary North American
facility CO2 reporting initiative.
- Ford is the first automaker to join The Climate Registry.
- Ford participates in other greenhouse gas emissions initiatives around the
globe including the Chicago Climate Exchange (CCX), Mexican GHG Program,
Philippine GHG Accounting and Reporting Program, Australian GHG Challenge Plus
Program, EU Emissions Trading Scheme and Canadian GHG Challenge Registry.
- Ford recently was the first automaker to submit a voluntary GHG report in
China for its Changan Ford Mazda Automobile Co., Ltd. facility in Chongqing,
China.
DEARBORN, Mich., May 5, 2008 - Ford is taking an industry-leading move
by becoming the first automaker to join The Climate Registry (TCR), building
upon Ford's leadership in facility greenhouse gas (GHG) initiatives globally.
Ford supports the global harmonization of GHG monitoring and reporting
practices. TCR represents a significant step toward that goal.
TCR is a non-profit organization established to measure and publicly report
GHG emissions using a single reporting standard across industry sectors. TCR
represents a linking of several state-sponsored GHG emissions reporting efforts,
including the California Climate Action Registry and the Eastern Climate
Registry. TCR’s reporting protocol is based on the internationally recognized
GHG emissions measurement standards of the World Resources Institute and World
Business Council on Sustainability (WRI/WBCSD) - an approach Ford has
voluntarily supported since 2001.
Nearly all U.S. states, many Canadian provinces and some Mexican states have
adopted TCR’s program, thereby eliminating a patchwork of reporting standards
that could lead to unnecessary and time consuming complexity in the system.
“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.”
Following TCR’s reporting process will allow Ford to focus its resources on
finding and implementing GHG emissions reduction projects rather than
comprehending and implementing complex, disparate reporting requirements around
the world. In the U.S. alone, without TCR, each state could have developed its
own unique GHG reporting requirements
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. Ford will leverage its emissions monitoring and reporting
experience with the Chicago Climate Exchange (CCX) to support its commitment to
TCR.
“Ford has demonstrated exemplary environmental leadership by courageously
stepping forward to support TCR in its preliminary stages,” said Gina McCarthy,
Chair of the Climate Registry. “We are deeply grateful for their integral
support in helping to address the challenges of climate change.”
Ford is an industry leader in global facility GHG initiatives including
voluntary reporting, emissions trading and carbon offset programs. The company
has achieved many GHG reporting firsts, most recently as the first automaker to
submit a voluntary GHG report to the Chinese government for its Changan Ford
Mazda Automobile Co., Ltd. facility in Chongqing, China. Ford's Chinese report
follows the same principles as TCR and other country-specific GHG initiatives
Ford has supported.
Ford also was the only automaker to join CCX and the UK Emissions Trading
Scheme (predecessor to the current EU Emissions Trading Scheme) by voluntarily
accepting emissions reduction targets and undergoing third-party verification of
GHG emissions data. Ford was the first automaker to voluntarily report facility
emissions to the Mexican GHG Program and the Philippine GHG Accounting and
Reporting Program.
Ford was also the first to publish an auto industry report dedicated to
addressing the business implications of climate change, carbon dioxide emissions
and energy security concerns.
“Through these early, voluntary actions, Ford’s manufacturing operations have
gained first-hand experience with emerging policy tools,” said Merritt. “Our
global, centralized approach has supported our participation in CO2 initiatives
in a more cost-effective and operationally-efficient manner. Ford’s early action
has also developed internal expertise which enables us to share our lessons
learned with others.”