EPA Recognizes Chevrolet with Climate Leadership Award

Feb 24, 2015 1:05 PM ET

WASHINGTON, Feb. 24, 2015 /3BL Media/ – Chevrolet’s efforts to help U.S. colleges further reduce their carbon footprint earned a Climate Leadership Award for Innovative Partnerships from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Center for Corporate Climate Leadership.

The award recognizes organizations working collaboratively on leading-edge climate initiatives.

The Chevrolet Clean Energy Campus Campaign engaged hundreds of stakeholders spanning the education, energy, carbon, auditing, and nonprofit sectors to develop a way for campuses to draw on a new source of funding – carbon credits from the voluntary carbon market – to help further their large-scale energy efficiency efforts.

Campus leaders have learned about the program through webinars and workshops. Dozens of students participated in the clean energy conversation and successfully engaged their campus leaders to secure funding.

“I am proud to recognize the Chevrolet Clean Energy Campus Campaign and all of our Climate Leadership Award winners for their actions to reduce the harmful carbon pollution that’s fueling climate change,” said EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy. “Our winners are providing the leadership, commitment, and solutions needed to cut greenhouse gas emissions and meet the challenge of a changing climate head on.”  

The fourth annual national awards program is a partnership with the EPA, Association of Climate Change Officers, the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions and The Climate Registry.  

The Chevrolet Clean Energy Campus Campaign is part of the brand’s voluntary initiative to reduce 8 million metric tons of carbon emissions – the equivalent to the annual carbon reduction benefit of a mature forest the size of Yellowstone.

“To make a significant impact in reducing the effects of climate change, we need to work together,” said Greg Martin, executive director of sustainability, General Motors. “The Clean Energy Campus Campaign is just one example of how a mix of different perspectives and talents can lead to new pathways to greater carbon reductions.”

Primary campaign stakeholders include the American College and University Presidents' Climate Commitment managed by Second Nature; the U.S. Green Building Council; the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education; Bonneville Environmental Foundation; Climate Neutral Business Network; Verified Carbon Standard; DNV GL; and 11 colleges including Ball State University, Valencia College, Portland State University, Spelman College, University of Illinois at Chicago, University of Wisconsin – Stevens Point, Boston University, Rochester Institute of Technology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Grand Valley State University, and Southern Oregon University.

Join the conversation with students, university and climate leaders to share why clean energy is important via #CleanEnergyU.

Founded in 1911 in Detroit, Chevrolet is now one of the world's largest car brands, doing business in more than 140 countries and selling more than 4.8 million cars and trucks a year. Chevrolet provides customers with fuel-efficient vehicles that feature engaging performance, design that makes the heart beat, passive & active safety features and easy-to-use technology, all at a value. More information on Chevrolet models can be found at www.chevrolet.com.