The Volvo Group enters partnership with WWF to reduce CO2-emissions

 

The Volvo Group enters partnership with WWF to reduce CO2-emissions

 

The Volvo
Group (http://www.volvogroup.com/group/global/en-gb/Pages/group_home.asp
x) will be the world's first vehicle manufacturer to join the World Wide
Fund for Nature's (WWF) Climate Savers Program. As a WWF partner, the
Volvo Group's truck companies undertake to reduce the
CO2-emissions (http://www.volvogroup.com/group/global/en-gb/responsibili
ty/envdev/climate_challenge/Pages/climate_challenge.aspx) from vehicles
manufactured between 2009 and 2014 by 13 million tons. Independent
technical experts will oversee the results.

“The partnership with WWF means that we are raising our already
ambitious goals in relation to cutting the CO2-emissions of our
products, says Volvo's CEO Leif Johansson. Our shared vision is that
future transport will be CO2-neutral. It won't be easy, but if anyone
can do it - Volvo can.”

The World Wild Fund for Nature (WWF) is one of the world's largest and
most respected environmental organizations, whose vision is to stop the
degradation of the planet's natural environment and build a future in
which humans live in harmony with nature.

The WWF Climate Savers
Program (http://www.worldwildlife.org/climate/climatesavers2.html)is
mobilizing multinational companies to cut their emissions of CO2. The
“Climate Savers” companies promise to reduce their CO2-emissions in
accordance with an agreement between the WWF, the company and
independent technical experts. The agreed goal must be more ambitious
than what the company has planned before, and also means that the
company will lead its own industry in the reduction of greenhouse gases.

The agreement between The Volvo Group and WWF will apply for the Volvo
Group's truck companies Mack Trucks (http://www.macktrucks.com/), Volvo
Trucks (http://www.volvotrucks.com/), Renault
Trucks (http://www.renault-trucks.com/), and UD
Trucks (http://www.udtrucks.com/), and states that:

  · The total amount of CO2 emitted during their lifetime by trucks
manufactured and sold between 2009 and 2014 will be cut by 13 million
tons compared with 2008 models by introduction of cutting edge fuel
economy technologies. The amount equals the total amount that is being
emitted from Sweden in three months.
  · Volvo will produce a truck prototype with 20-percent lower fuel
consumption than the equivalent 2008 model.
  · Volvo will be able to offer trucks in the commercial market that run
on renewable gas before 2014.
  · The Volvo Group will also reduce CO2-emissions from its production
plants by 0.5 million tons (12 percent) before 2014, compared with 2008.

 

Independent technical experts will annually monitor and oversee that the
Volvo Group complies with its undertaking.

“This is the first time we've engaged an outside party - in this case,
the world's largest environmental organization - to oversee that we
deliver what we've promised. That is unique for a global vehicle
manufacturer,” says Leif Johansson.

Effective transport is like a blood flow in that it plays a critical
role in social development. A modern society cannot function without
transport. The Volvo Group works constantly to reduce the CO2-emissions
of its products and production units, work that includes technologies
for increasing fuel efficiency and finding alternative fuels. Major
resources are invested in developing alternative drive lines, such as
hybrid solutions
 (http://www.volvogroup.com/group/global/en-gb/responsibility/envdev/alt
_drivelines/hybrid_tech/Pages/hybrid_technology.aspx)and engines that
are optimized for renewable
fuels. (http://www.volvogroup.com/group/global/en-gb/responsibility/envd
ev/renewable_fuels/Pages/renewable_fuels.aspx)

In 2007, the Volvo Group presented the world's first  CO2-neutral
vehicle
plant (http://www.volvogroup.com/group/global/en-gb/responsibility/envde
v/env_work/production/co2_neutral/Pages/co2_neutral_factories.aspx) in
Ghent in Belgium with wind-generated electricity. The long-term ambition
is that all plants will be CO2-neutral.

The Volvo Group's environmental initiatives are driven by three
integrated factors: legislation in the area, the Volvo Group's own
initiative to create the best products possible without compromising
customers or the environment, and external partnerships.

“As the first vehicle manufacturer to be selected to participate in the
Climate Savers Program, we have been presented with a real challenge.
But by focusing on lower CO2-emissions, we believe that we can create
more value for our customers' business while contributing to sustainable
development at the same time,” says Volvo's CEO Leif Johansson.

November 4, 2010

Reporters who want more information, please contact Mårten Wikforss, +46
31 66 11 27 or +46 705 59 11 49.

 

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