Feb. 22, 2008 - Pharmaceuticals giant Merck has announced plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from its global operations by 12% (from 2004 levels) by the end of 2012. The new target has been set as part of the company's continued participation in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Climate Leaders program, which Merck joined in 2006.

Climate Leaders is a voluntary partnership between the EPA and industry, which works to develop comprehensive climate change strategies. Companies that join Climate Leaders commit to reducing their impacts on the environment through a corporate-wide inventory of their greenhouse gas emissions, setting aggressive reduction goals and annually reporting their progress to EPA.

Merck's new emissions target is an "absolute goal," meaning that the company has pledged to meet its 12% reduction target despite any increases in production. The company says it will offset 100% of emissions from new production.

"Our greenhouse gas emissions reduction plan will be achieved through initiatives being implemented throughout our company to reduce our demand for energy," says Karen Klimas, Merck's vice president of global safety and the environment. The company is currently on track to reach a 25% reduction in energy demand (again, from 2004 levels) by the end of this year, according to Klimas.