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 he Sierra Club applauds the historic commitment to
higher fuel economy made by the Ford Motor Company. Ford has
pledged to increase the fuel economy of its Sport Utility Vehicle
(SUV) fleet by 25 percent over the next five years.
 "The
Sierra Club applauds the Ford Motor Company for its historic
commitment to higher fuel economy," said Daniel Becker,
Director of the Sierra Club's Global Warming and Energy Program.
"Ford is putting its mileage where its mouth is. Now, this
bold announcement has laid out a challenge for the rest of the
auto industry to meet."
Under the
announcement, Ford will increase fuel economy on its SUVs, which
make up approximately 1/5th of its fleet, by a rate of five percent
a year. This is close to the six percent annual increase in fuel
economy the Sierra Club has advocated for the last decade.
Each gallon
of gas pumps 28 pounds of carbon dioxide (CO2) pollution into
the atmosphere. America's cars and light trucks are responsible
for more CO2 pollution than all but four countries (United States,
China, Russia, Japan).
"Making
cars and light trucks go further on a gallon of gas is the single
biggest step toward curbing global warming," said Beck-er.
"The Sierra Club looks forward to working together with
Ford for a cleaner environment for our families and our future."
Ford's announcement
comes at an opportune time, as the Department of Transportation
and National Academy of Sciences prepare for a Congressionally
mandated study for higher Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE)
standards.
It is important
that Ford has committed to improving fuel economy through superior
technology. Ford has said they will achieve this goal without
relying on loopholes in the law and the Sierra Club hopes they
will not use diesel engines, which increase smog and carcinogenic
particulates in the air.
"This
disproves the tired canard that Detroit can't improve fuel economy,"
said Becker. "Ford's commitment to cleaner vehicles is good
for the environment and good for business. We challenge General
Motors and DaimlerChrysler to join the race for clean vehicles."
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