Why the global auto industry is stepping up to the climate change challenge

This text serves as public announcement of the CEO Climate Leadership for Automotive Statement, written on the occasion of the 21st Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP21/CMP11) in Paris, France from November 30 to December 11. 

The United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties 21, better known as COP21, is a global call to action to create a more sustainable future, and the global automotive industry is rising to the challenge.

Now, the CEOs of the global light and heavy duty automotive industry made an important commitment to sustainable mobility with a public declaration to decarbonize automotive transport.

CEOs of thirteen different companies, originally based in the U.S., China, India, Japan, France, Germany, Italy, and Sweden, came together for this significant commitment. This breadth of support is indicative of how climate concerns are global, and demand global, rather than local, solutions.

Each signatory is making a unique, significant contribution to decarbonizing automotive transport. For Johnson Controls this public commitment is underscored by our growing range of advanced battery technology powering start-stop, micro hybrid, hybrid and electric vehicles. Our Start-Stop battery technology is now integrated into 20 million vehicles worldwide, saving an estimated 381 million gallons of fuel, and cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 3.4 million metric tons per year. For years, we’ve been an innovator in “light-weighting” automotive seating and interiors and are currently researching using advanced technologies for back frames that could reduce seating weight 10–20%, reducing vehicle carbon dioxide emissions and saving fuel.

However, the collective commitment of the global automotive industry will be far from sufficient to address the climate challenge. To achieve meaningful reductions, every country and industry will need to contribute and we invite them to join us in seeking comprehensive solutions to reduce GHG emissions. On behalf of the entire global automotive industry, we look forward to working collectively with governments and other stakeholders to implement a planned transition to a low-carbon economy.

To read more about this initiative and about the Automotive Industry Partnership Programme, please go here

Author: Alex Molinaroli is the Chairman, President and CEO of Johnson Controls; and the Chairman of the World Economic Forum Automotive Industry Community

Image: Electric cars are driven in a motorcade as part of the “Sharing Copenhagen / Copenhagen European Environment Capital 2014” campaign, along the Oresunds Bridge, which links Denmark and Sweden, September 21, 2014. REUTERS/Jens Astrup/Scanpix Denmark