PEORIA, Ill. – Caterpillar has pledged to reduce its global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions 20 percent by 2010. The company has committed to the reduction target as part of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Climate Leaders GHG program, which Caterpillar joined in 2003.
The 20-percent target would cover global greenhouse gas emissions on a revenue-normalized basis for the period between 2002 and 2010.
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Between 1990 and 2001, Caterpillar reduced direct GHG emissions from its facilities by 450,000 tonnes. The reduction resulted from fuel switching, process changes and energy conservation programs.
"By setting an aggressive target for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, Caterpillar is leading efforts to improve our global environment and showing what can be accomplished in partnership with the EPA," says EPA Assistant Administrator Jeff Holmstead.
Setting a revenue-normalized target for GHG reductions allows a company to account for increases or decreases in production over time, according to EPA guidelines. Those companies can then focus on GHG emissions per unit of production as the key performance indicator to measure GHG intensity.
Started in 2002, Climate Leaders is a voluntary program in which the EPA works with companies to set aggressive long-term emissions reduction goals. Partners set a corporatewide GHG-reduction goal and inventory their emissions to measure progress. By reporting inventory data to EPA, partners create a lasting record of their accomplishments.