Ford, Chrysler Join USCAP to Address Global Warming

The United States Climate Action Partnership (USCAP) announced today that Ford Motor Company and the Chrysler Group joined their landmark coalition.  USCAP includes 29 of the world’s largest companies that call for concrete legal limits on global warming pollution.

According to the President of the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), Frances Beinecke, “Detroit is starting to send a message that it is finally ready to be part of the solution addressing global warming pollution.  That Ford and Chrysler have joined General Motors in USCAP is a clear signal that times have changed and there is indeed real hope for swift and decisive action”. 

I don’t know if I share the same level of optimism expressed by the NRDC, but I do hope that the automotive industry is changing their tune toward global warming, if anything but slightly. 

However, my cynicism returns when I read about the full page, color ad that Ford placed in an Indian newspaper this month.  My first reaction was similar to most people's:  Could Ford be more insensitive?  The ad highlights one of their gas-guzzling SUVs atop a destroyed ice burg with polar bears teetering on thin ice in the background.  Are they trying to make fun of the drowning polar bears and melting glaciers due to global warming (caused mainly by automobiles)?  Click on the image or here for the full affect.    

I’m probably reading too much into the ad.  But sarcasm aside, it plainly illustrates Ford’s ignorance on the subject and/or blatant disregard for the dire situation global warming has caused including killing off the polar bears. 

by
Erin Swanson
Eswanson@enviance.com