Ten U.S. Corporations Pledge to Cut Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Ten U.S. Corporations Pledge to Cut Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Caterpillar, Frito-Lay, Xerox, Staples and the Gap are among 10 corporations pledging to reduce greenhouse gas emissions as part of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Climate Leaders, a voluntary program that works with companies to measure greenhouse gas emissions and set aggressive, long-term emissions reduction goals.

To date, 37 of the 68 companies in Climate Leaders have set emissions reduction goals. General Motors and Baxter International have both achieved their 2005 goals more than a year early. The EPA estimates that the 37 Climate Leaders' greenhouse gas reductions will prevent more than 8 million metric tons of carbon emissions equivalent per year. These reductions are equal to the annual greenhouse gas emissions of five million cars.

Since its inception in 2002, Climate Leaders has grown to include 68 corporations whose U.S. emissions represent 8 percent of total U.S. greenhouse gas emissions.

The 10 corporations committed to new greenhouse gas reduction goals are:

--Caterpillar Inc.: Reduce global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 20 percent per dollar revenue from 2002 to 2010.
--Frito-Lay: Reduce U.S. GHG emissions by 14 percent per pound of production from 2002 to 2010.
--Green Mountain Energy: Achieve net zero U.S. GHG emissions by 2005 and maintain that level through 2009.
--Melaver: Achieve net zero U.S. GHG emissions by 2006 and maintain that level through 2009.
--Calpine: Reduce its U.S. GHG emissions by 4 percent per megawatt hour from 2003 to 2008.
--Xerox: Reduce its total global GHG emissions by 10 percent from 2002 to 2012.
--Staples: Reduce its U.S. GHG emissions by 7 percent from 2001 to 2010.
--Gap, Inc.: Reduce its U.S. GHG emissions by 11 percent per square foot from 2003 to 2008.
--Bank of America: Reduce its total U.S. GHG emissions by 9 percent from 2004 to 2009.
--Exelon: Reduce its total U.S. GHG emissions by 8 percent from 2001 to 2008.

In addition, 10 new companies have joined as Climate Leaders partners: EMC Corp. of Hopkinton, Mass.; Entergy Corp. of New Orleans, La.; Green Mountain Energy Company of Austin, Texas; Mack Trucks, Inc. of Allentown, Pa.; Marriott International of Washington, D.C.; Melaver, Inc. of Savannah, Ga.; Quad/Graphics, Inc. of Sussex, Wis.; The Hartford of Hartford, Conn.; Tyson Foods, Inc. of Springdale, Ark.; and Volvo Trucks North America, Inc. of Greensboro, N.C.

To find out more about the EPA's Climate Leaders program, visit www.epa.gov/climateleaders

Published 05/12/2005