Tell Ford: Stop pinkwashing cancer-causing cars and trucks

The petition to Ford Motor Company CEO James Hackett reads: "Stop pinkwashing and put the brakes on the breast cancer epidemic. Stop making vehicles that produce cancer-causing exhaust and switch to 100 percent zero emission vehicles." Add your name:

Ford is already one of the most polluting car companies in the world,1 and now it plans to switch almost exclusively to even more polluting trucks and SUVs. Ford even lobbied the Trump administration to repeal vehicle emissions standards.2 October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and pink ribbons are everywhere. Even Ford Motor has its own pink PR campaign. But Ford's gas-guzzling vehicles increase women's risk of breast cancer. Covering that up with pink ribbons is hypocrisy – what our friends at Breast Cancer Action call "pinkwashing." Until Ford gets serious about ending its own contribution to the breast cancer epidemic, it has no business claiming to fight for survivors. Tell Ford Motor: Stop pinkwashing and help put the brakes on the breast cancer epidemic by switching to 100 percent zero emission vehicles. Click here to sign the petition. Ford runs Warriors in Pink, a donations program that encourages women to be "warriors" in the fight against breast cancer.3 But it doesn’t matter how hard women “fight” if the air they breathe is more toxic because of Ford’s hypocrisy. Auto exhaust contains carcinogens and hormone disruptors such as benzene, 1,3-butadiene and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons that increase the risk of breast cancer.4,5 As one of the Big Three automobile manufacturers in the United States, Ford could make a big difference in cutting down on these chemicals in our environment. Instead, Ford plans to focus its U.S. sales on SUVs and trucks – vehicles with the highest cancer-causing emissions. SUVs and trucks also have lower emissions standards than cars, so by encouraging people to buy larger vehicles, Ford can duck stricter rules and pump more cancer-causing chemicals into the air.6 If Ford truly wanted to help women reduce our risk of breast cancer, it would switch to 100 percent zero emissions vehicles. When it comes to electric vehicles, Ford lags far behind its competitors. The company has not offered a single new hybrid or battery electric vehicle since the 2013 model year.7 Ford plans to produce more electric vehicles by 2022, but most will not be sold in the United States.8 Over 100 years ago, Ford made its name by bringing the Model-T to the masses. Now it’s time for Ford to stop the pinkwashing and revolutionize transportation again, this time with a zero-emission fleet that will protect our health and environment. Tell Ford to stop pinkwashing and help put the brakes on the breast cancer epidemic by switching to 100 percent zero emission vehicles. Click the link below to sign the petition: https://act.credoaction.com/sign/ford-pinkwashing?t=7&akid=30418%2E3130208%2EKC4nwl Brandy Doyle, CREDO Action Add your name: References: Dan Becker and James Gerstenzang, "The hypocrisy behind Ford's 'green' reputation," Detroit Free Press, March 30, 2018. Ibid. Ford Motor, "Models of courage," accessed Oct. 18, 2018. Breast Cancer Prevention Partners, "Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs)," accessed Oct. 17, 2018. Kathryn Rodgers et al., "Environmental chemicals and breast cancer: An updated review of epidemiological literature informed by biological mechanisms," Environmental Research, January 2018. Hiroko Tabuchi, "The World Is Embracing S.U.V.s. That’s Bad News for the Climate." The New York Times, March 3, 2018. John Voelcker, "Ford's future hybrid, electric-car lineup: 5 things to know," Green Car Reports, March 16, 2018. Anton Wahlman, "Ford Outlines Its Electric Car Plans Vs. Tesla Model Y," Seeking Alpha, March 19, 2018.

Take Action: Demand Ford keep its promise to strengthen cleaner car emissions standards, not roll them back.

The Trump administration’s assault on climate action continues. Now, fuel-efficiency standards for cars are on the chopping block.

Major automakers once stood by cleaner car standards. Back then, executives at Ford were voicing their support for the fuel economy standards on vehicles that would greatly reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

But since then they’ve changed their tune. Just days after the inauguration of Donald Trump, Ford started lobbying to roll back these critical standards, siding with Big Oil instead of focusing on the urgent need to protect our climate and communities.

Take Action: Demand Ford keep its promise to strengthen cleaner car emissions standards, not roll them back.

Ford is part of the Alliance of Auto Manufacturers, a powerful trade group which has used climate denial to lobby against the standards. And, this year Ford showed their true colors yet again, announcing that the company would be dropping more-efficient cars from their lineup, opting instead to produce more gas-guzzling trucks and SUVs.

Since big car companies rely on consumers and maintaining their brands, a massive public backlash will have an impact. That’s why we’re joining together with our allies at the Sierra Club, Rainforest Action Network, and others with a joint petition to put pressure on Ford.

Rolling back the rules that reduce pollution from cars and trucks just sets us further backwards, and means more communities dealing with the extraction of oil and up to 280 million more metric tons of CO2 emissions by 2030.

Add your name to tell Ford that we demand stronger clean car standards — not a rollback!

- ClimateTruth.org

NOTE:  Like many, we're appalled at the actions of the Trump administration to separate families at the border. Join one of the actions being planned across the country today — and in the days ahead — to stand up to these inhumane acts here: familiesbelongtogether.org

MORE INFORMATION:

"The real Scott Pruitt scandal is his coming crusade to help car companies pollute more,” NBC News - Think, 06-10-2018
“E.P.A. Takes a Major Step to Roll Back Clean Car Rules,” The New York Times, 05-31-2018
“Ford Touts 'Green' Image While Arguing for Weaker Efficiency Standards and Planning to Sell Only Trucks,” DeSmog Blog, 04-29-2018

TELL BILL FORD AND FORD MOTOR COMPANY: NO U-TURN ON EMISSIONS STANDARDS

It’s simple: If you clean up vehicle emissions, you cut down on carbon pollution. (In a big way!)

Transportation is the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in the US. In fact, cars and trucks alone account for over one-quarter of all US emissions. It’s got to change.

Americans want it to change. Nearly 90 percent of Americans want automakers to continue to improve fuel economy – leading to less emissions – and support strict government standards, according to a recent Consumer Reports survey.

The Obama Administration listened and worked with automakers like Ford Motor Company to develop ambitious but achievable fuel efficiency standards for new cars and trucks that would prevent 6 billion metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions by 2025. Even better, these standards would save American families $1.7 trillion in fuel costs.

Ford was part of the solution. But now the company is pulling a U-turn and working with President Trump and his cabinet of Big Oil insiders to roll back these critical standards.

We say no way.

Add your name to ask Ford and other automakers to defend existing vehicle emissions standards and keep us moving forward in the fight against the climate crisis.

- Climate Reality Project 

Tell Ford: Stop working with Trump to undo clean car standards

The petition to Ford reads: "Honor your commitment to reducing carbon emissions and fighting climate change. Stop working with the Trump administration to delay, weaken or block the clean car standards." Add your name:

Donald Trump and Environmental Protection Agency head Scott Pruitt can claim another partner in their war against curbing climate change: Ford Motor Company. While Ford advertises its commitment to building fuel efficient and electric vehicles, the company is simultaneously working hand-in-hand with the Trump regime to weaken the "clean car standards," Obama-era rules meant to increase fuel efficiency, reduce pollution and help curb climate change.1 Ford is putting profits ahead of protecting public health and the environment by working to undermine the very rules it once hailed and now continues to publicly promote. We must urge Ford to honor its commitment to the clean car standards and stop working with the Trump regime to weaken these critical safeguards. Tell Ford: Stop working with Trump to roll back clean car standards. Click here to sign the petition. Ford's hypocrisy and opportunism is astounding. As recently as last summer, Ford released a slick video in which Chairman Bill Ford greenwashed the company’s commitment to sustainability. The Chairman told his consumers and the outside world that "climate change is real and a critical threat" and that the company would "work with leaders around the world in support of ambitious global greenhouse gas reduction targets."2 Yet, at the same time, the company's powerful lobbyists at the Alliance for Automobile Manufacturing have been meeting with the Trump administration and even testifying in front of the Republican-controlled Congress to roll back regulations. A company that touts its commitment to addressing climate change has no business meeting with the Trump regime.3 The clean car standards are good for consumers, public health and the environment. If the U.S. government fully implements these critical protections by 2025, they will reduce oil consumption by 12 billion barrels, save consumers $1 trillion at the pump and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 6 billion metric tons — the equivalent of 150 coal-fired plants or 1.3 million cars.4 It's no wonder the clean car standards are extremely popular. In fact, 95 percent of Americans want auto manufacturers to improve fuel economy for cars, and nearly 80 percent believe the government must continue increasing fuel efficient standards.5 Our environmental and consumer protection allies are ramping up the pressure on Ford to drop its collaboration with the Trump regime.6 We must ensure Ford honors its promise to reducing emissions and stop working to undo years of to progress to protect our environment and climate. Tell Ford: Stop working with Trump to roll back clean car standards. Click the link below to sign the petition: https://act.credoaction.com/sign/ford_clean_car?t=7&akid=27400%2E3130208%2ENsnauH - Josh Nelson, CREDO Action Add your name: References: Environment America, "Earth to Ford: Get Back on Track With Clean Cars," EcoWatch, Jan. 25, 2018. Sustainable Brands, "New Ford Sustainability Report Reveals Progress on Water Stewardship Goals," Aug. 31, 2017. Public Citizen, "Ford Receives 2018 Hypocrisy Award for Promoting Innovation and Sustainability While Colluding With Trump to Undo Climate Safeguards," Jan. 9, 2018. Sierra Club, "Go ‘Forward Not Backward’: Environmental and Consumer Groups Launch Campaign Calling on Ford, Volkswagen and Other Automakers to Drop Efforts to Roll Back Clean Car Standards," Oct. 25, 2017. National Resources Defense Council, "'Floor It:' NRDC Poll Shows Broad Bipartisan Backing for Clean Cars and Clean Transportation," Aug. 4, 2016. Leon Kaye, "Ford Called Out for Undermining Fuel Standards While Promoting Sustainability," Triple Pundit, Jan. 11, 2018.