June 19, 2008 Two months after sharing its long-term climate plan with anxious investors, Ford has publicly released its carbon management strategy in the company s latest sustainability report.

Ford had previously committed to cutting carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions 30% by 2030, prompting investors to demand details on how the company planned to achieve its goal. (As a member of the U.S. Climate Action Partnership, Ford has further committed to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions 60%-80% by 2050.)

The new sustainability report identifies the company s short- and long-term plans to incorporate fuel-saving and low-emissions technologies into future vehicle designs. For example, Ford last year launched EcoBoost, an engine technology that combines direct injection and turbocharging with a gasoline engine to improve vehicle fuel economy and CO2 emissions.

The Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) performance of Ford cars and trucks sold in the U.S. improved 5.9% for the 2007 model year compared to the 2006 model year, the automaker says.

In addition, Ford reports that since 2000 it has reduced global operational energy use by 30% and CO2 emissions from its facilities by 39%.

"It has become abundantly clear to us that Ford's future success will be determined in no small part by how effectively it responds to sustainability challenges," says Sue Cischke, Ford s vice president of sustainability, environment, and safety engineering. "One thing is certain; the future will not look like the present, so we need to respond to sudden changing conditions."

In preparing this year s report, Ford worked with the Ceres investor coalition, as well as environmental groups and other public interest organizations working with companies on sustainable business practices.

"Ford's reporting has benefited greatly from open and honest dialogue with shareholders, environmentalists and other key stakeholders on sustainability issues such as global climate change," says Debra Hall, chief operating officer at Ceres.

Download Ford s 2007 sustainability report here.