Partner Profile

General Motors Corporation
Location	Detroit, MI
Goal	General Motors Corporation pledges to reduce total North American GHG emissions by 40 percent from 2000 to 2010. General Motors achieved its initial goal by reducing total North American GHG emissions by 23 percent from 2000 to 2005.
Environmental Web Site
Company Description Founded in 1908, General Motors Corporation (GM) is the world's largest vehicle manufacturer. With global headquarters in Detroit and over 100 other facilities across North America, GM has approximately 327,000 employees and also has manufacturing operations in 33 countries. In 2005, 9.17 million GM cars and trucks were sold globally under the following brands: Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC, GM Daewoo, Holden, HUMMER, Opel, Pontiac, Saab, Saturn, and Vauxhall. Since the 1970s, GM has focused on incorporating environmental considerations and principles into its products and facilities. GM is implementing an aggressive program employing EPA's ENERGY STAR® practices to reduce energy usage across its global facilities. From 1995 to 2004, GM reduced its North American facility energy footprint by 26.6 percent. As a charter Partner in EPA's Climate Leaders program, GM committed to a 10 percent reduction in CO2 emissions from 2000 to 2005 for its North American facilities. In addition, GM also participates in the Department of Energy's Freedom Car Program.
Reasons for Joining Climate Leaders GM is concerned about the potential impact of its business, including its processes and its products, on society and the environment. The company recognizes that the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere is increasing and believes there is a constructive way for GM to work with other stakeholders to move forward together on this issue. GM is an automotive leader in a number of voluntary programs with the U.S. government. Along with joining Climate Leaders, GM has also partnered with EPA on other voluntary programs including ENERGY STAR, Green Lights, Combined Heat and Power Partnership, Landfill Methane Outreach Program, the Green Power Partnership, and Suppliers Partnership for the Environment. Visit the following GM Web site to learn more. Before joining Climate Leaders, GM had established a public energy reduction goal and an internal CO2 reduction goal. Through Climate Leaders, GM was able to determine, with the help of EPA, the level of aggressiveness of its internal reduction goals, create a public goal for CO2 reduction, and receive external recognition for its efforts.
GHG Reductions Before Joining Climate Leaders Since 1990, GM has reduced its U.S. facility emissions by 42.52 million metric tons CO2 equivalent, 27 percent of which was due to energy efficiency projects. The rest was due to the transition from R12 (Freon) to R134a - a hydrofluorocarbon with a much lower global warming potential, as a refrigerant for air conditioning systems in plants and vehicles. GM also became the first automobile manufacturer to report to the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) 1605(b) program. The DOE 1605(b) was established in 1995 and encourages broad reporting of emissions and sequestration by utilities, and industries, as well as small businesses and institutions. Elizabeth Lowery, Vice President, Environment and Energy Policy, has championed the company's environmental efforts, "Working with EPA through Climate Leaders is a way for GM to demonstrate our commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and is an excellent example of a collaborative public-private partnership." In addition to its GHG reduction efforts, GM has also saved millions of dollars each year through its energy efficiency efforts highlighted by GM's Sustained Leadership status with EPA's ENERGY STAR program. Visit the following GM Web site to learn more.
Approach to GHG Management GM established its original baseline inventory in 1990. In 2000, as part of the Climate Leaders Program, GM conducted a baseline inventory of direct GHG emissions sources, such as stationary combustion of fossil fuels, facility and mobile factory fill refrigerant usage, and indirect emissions from purchased electricity and then established a reduction target against that baseline. GM has also publicly reported and avoided CO2 equivalent emissions from biomass and waste fuels. To collect the inventory data, GM co-designed a global Internet-based data collection system with a third party, which includes a thorough training element, to ensure that accurate, real-time data are collected from every facility around the globe. This database enables the development of an accurate energy and emissions baseline. GM's global energy data is collected and validated by a third party, and has become an integral part of GM's strategy to accurately track and manage reductions per energy efficiency project. It also enables the development of future energy project business cases by validating their return on investment. To date, the system has saved GM millions of dollars in corrected billing errors alone. GM was able to refine its inventory through EPA's on-site visit to review the implementation of the Inventory Management Plan. In addition, the process of creating an inventory allowed GM to codify a process that could be translated from policy to the plant floor. It also helps categorize and identify areas where additional energy and emission reduction project opportunities (i.e. ENERGY STAR) could be implemented during vehicle assembly.
Progress Towards Goal Completion GM was one of the first Climate Leaders partners to achieve its GHG reduction goal. In 2004, GM surpassed its 10 percent target by achieving a 17.1 percent reduction in CO2, one year ahead of schedule. The company was recognized for this accomplishment at the January 2006 Climate Leaders Partners Meeting in Marina del Rey, California. Through its efforts, the company has connected its public policy function and facility operations, which has helped to identify strategic GHG management opportunities. This has allowed GM to remain a leader in managing global climate issues through effective GHG management policies, strategies and performance. It has also added real value to the business bottom line and a new awareness for GM stakeholders, shareholders, customers, and employees. GM has shown that voluntary programs, when managed effectively, can create real, measurable results and add significant cost savings to the business bottom line. Achieving the reduction goal has helped to encourage all levels of the company to set new internal goals moving forward. "GM has demonstrated that voluntary programs work, and they make good business sense," said Lowery. "Our partnership with EPA's Climate Leaders program is an excellent example of how government and industry together can encourage innovation and strong, forward-thinking action."

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