Ford Motor Company is taking another major step toward helping stabilize carbon dioxide emissions globally, today becoming the first automaker to join a voluntary greenhouse gas reporting program recently established in India.
Participation in the India program builds on Ford’s leadership in greenhouse gas reporting – the company already participates in similar programs in the United States, China, Canada, Mexico, Brazil and Argentina.
Voluntary reporting provides overall transparency regarding the company’s CO2 emissions and underscores the importance of the issue to Ford, which has a goal of reducing CO2 emissions at its global facilities, including two in Chennai, India, by 30 percent per vehicle by 2025.
“Ford is pleased to be the first automaker to participate in the voluntary India greenhouse gas reporting program,” said Andy Hobbs, director of the company’s environmental quality office. “We look forward to sharing our knowledge and helping to establish greenhouse gas reporting in India.”
India’s program is a joint effort between the World Resources Institute, The Energy and Resources Institute and the Confederation of Indian Industry. As the first automaker to participate in the program, Ford’s role will be to assist in the establishment of credible and verifiable greenhouse gas inventories.
“Ford India is committed to bringing fuel-efficient and safe vehicles to India that our customers want and value. And we are growing our manufacturing capabilities in India in an environmentally responsible way as part of our One Ford plan,” said Joginder Singh, president and managing director, Ford India. “Ford is proud to be the first automotive company to join the voluntary greenhouse gas reporting program in India, and this is a reflection of our ongoing commitment to sustainability of manufacturing operations globally.”
Ford operates a manufacturing plant that produces the Ford Figo, Ford Fiesta, Ford Classic, Ford Endeavour and Ford EcoSport, and an engine plant that produces 17 variants of gasoline and diesel engines. A vehicle assembly and engine plant complex are under construction in Sanand, Gujarat.
The facilities are equipped to reuse 100 percent of wastewater generated, have reduced water use 30 percent per vehicle produced in the last three years, and reduced energy consumption 10 percent per vehicle.
“Indian Industry has set a powerful precedent in the region, by collaboratively engaging on a multi-stakeholder platform to take the next leap on GHG measurement and management. The program would strive to promote climate stewardship and innovation that would merge core business benefits along with environmental and social agenda” says Vivek P. Adhia, Senior Associate – Climate & Energy, WRI India.
Ford has developed products, technologies and processes at its facilities that are designed to reduce emissions and help the company meet its own targets, while also doing its part to help keep CO2 levels in the earth’s atmosphere at or below 450 parts per million. Leading scientists, businesses and governmental agencies say this is a goal that must be met to avoid the most serious effects on climate change.
Already, total CO2 emissions at Ford’s global facilities have dropped 47 percent, or by 4.65 million metric tons, since 2000. The company continues investing in processes and equipment aimed at further reductions.
For example, Ford is expanding its 3-Wet paint capacity by 50 percent this year – adding the process to four more plants on three continents. Using this environmentally friendly process, which streamlines the painting process, is expected to reduce CO2 emissions by up to 25 percent. Ford India’s Chennai manufacturing plant was the company’s first to use the advanced process, and enough energy has been saved to power nearly 12,000 households in Chennai for a year, or light up all street lights in the city for about four months.
Reducing CO2 emissions is a key component of Ford’s 14th annual sustainability report titled “Blueprint for Sustainability: Our Journey Continues.” The entire report can be viewed here.