GM Commits to the Environment

In a day which will go down in history as the day in which GM captured the pocket of investors with its initial public offering, the carmaker made another long term commitment: cut, or help cut, 8 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions.

GM plans to do so not only by tweaking its operations and products, but also by investing in areas which are not necessarily tied to the automotive sector. In the next three to five years, one of GM's brands, Chevrolet, will be investing $40 million in several clean energy projects across the US.

The projects target energy efficient technology (smart energy sensors and solar panels to schools and other community-based facilities), wind farms, the use of captured flammable methane from community landfills and forestry projects.

“GM has made great progress in reducing our environmental impact, but we know we can do more,” said GM CEO Dan Akerson. “Chevrolet’s investment is an extension of the environmental initiatives we’ve been undertaking for years because the solution to global environmental challenges goes beyond just vehicles."

As far as the company is concerned, GM plans to continue the efforts which help it cut water use by nearly 35 percent between 2005 and 2009 at manufacturing facilities or recycle 90 percent of the waste the company generates.

“Chevy is an iconic emblem of America and it is a big deal that it is stepping forward to address one of our greatest challenges – moving us toward a low-carbon future,” said Eileen Claussen, president of the Pew Center on Global Climate Change. “Chevy is clearly demonstrating that companies can act now and help propel clean energy solutions.”