General Motors, Toyota Back Trump in California Emissions Fight as State Battles Third Year of Devastating Wildfires

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MEDIA CONTACT: Stefanie Spear, sspear@asyousow.org, 216-387-1609

BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA—OCT. 30, 2019—News that GM and Toyota are siding with the Trump administration in its plan to restrict California from setting its own air pollution standards for vehicles comes as the Golden State continues to battle fierce wildfires throughout the state.

Danielle Fugere, president of As You Sow, made the following statement:

“Shareholders are concerned to see GM and Toyota breaking from their peers to support the Trump administration’s inexplicable roll-back of vital fuel economy standards. Such a stance demonstrates an irresponsible ceding of American leadership in the transportation sector to countries that prioritize EV and low-emission technology advances.

“This announcement comes as California is experiencing a third year of devastating fires that have displaced nearly 200,000 people from their homes and shut off electricity to millions. Shareholders are increasingly aware that climate change is incompatible with a thriving society. The fact that GM and Toyota would so blatantly stand behind actions that will increase the climate emergency is of utmost concern.”

Transportation accounts for more than 23 percent of global carbon dioxide emissions. In the U.S., a recent study found that greenhouse gas (GHG) reductions beyond those achievable from current vehicle emission reduction standards will be necessary by 2025 to meet global climate goals.

In 2018, As You Sow filed resolutions with General Motors, which got a 26.9 percent vote, and Ford, which got a 12.8 percent vote, asking the companies to publish a report describing whether the company’s fleet GHG emissions through 2025 will increase, given the industry’s proposed weakening of CAFE standards or, conversely, how the companies plans to retain emissions consistent with current CAFE standards, to ensure its products are sustainable in a rapidly decarbonizing vehicle market.

For more information on As You Sow’s work on climate change, click here.

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As You Sow is a nonprofit organization that promotes environmental and social corporate responsibility through shareholder advocacy, coalition building and innovative legal strategies. Click here to see As You Sow’s shareholder resolution tracker.