GM Joins EPA Climate Leaders

FOR RELEASE: February 20, 2002

General Motors Teams Up With EPA To Address Climate Concerns

WASHINGTON, D.C.- General Motors is joining the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Climate Leaders Partnership, a new, voluntary program that challenges its partners to set an aggressive, corporate-wide greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction goal. As part of the program, partners inventory their GHG emissions to track progress toward their reduction goal.

"Working with the EPA through Climate Leaders is a way for GM to demonstrate our commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and is an excellent example of a collaborative public-private partnership," said Elizabeth A. Lowery, GM vice president, Environment and Energy.

Under the partnership, GM has agreed to submit a company-wide inventory of GHG emissions annually; and enter into discussions with the EPA to develop a U.S. corporate-wide reduction goal to be achieved over five years.

In return, the EPA will provide partners with the technical assistance necessary to complete an inventory of emissions associated with energy purchases at facilities participating in the program and provide partners with a GHG protocol to inventory their GHG emissions.

For more than three decades, GM has taken the lead in incorporating environmental considerations into its products and facilities. GM has also lead the industry in reporting GHG emissions by being the first automotive company to report under the Department of Energy 1605b Voluntary Reporting Protocol since 1995. GM is now in the midst of an aggressive program employing the EPA's Energy Star principles to reduce energy usage at its North American facilities by 25 percent by the end of 2005. After six years, GM is squarely on target, having already reduced energy consumption by over 16 percent from 1995 levels. Through the EPA's Climate Leaders Program, GM has committed to a 10 percent reduction in CO2 emissions from its facilities between 2000-2005.

This ongoing implementation of energy and CO2 reduction initiatives highlights GM's commitment to sustainability. In addition to energy and CO2 reduction through programs such as the EPA's Green Lights and Energy Star Buildings Partnership, General Motors has also been actively pursuing renewable energy projects through its participation in the EPA's Green Power Partnership, Landfill Methane Outreach Program, Combined Heat and Power Program, and its membership in the World Resources Institute Green Power Market Development Group. GM's Partnership with the Department of Energy's FreedomCar Program makes a commitment toward creating a future where the vehicle's environmental impact is lessened.

General Motors , the world's largest vehicle manufacturer, designs, builds and markets cars and trucks worldwide. In 2001, GM earned $1.5 billion on sales of $177.3 billion, excluding special items. It employs about 362,000 people globally. GM has been the world's automotive sales leader since 1931. In 2001, GM set industry sales records in the United States - its largest market - for total trucks and for sport utility vehicles. GM sold more than 1 million SUVs - a first for any automaker. GM also sold more full-size pickup trucks than any other manufacturer since 1978. GM also operates one of the world's largest and most successful financial services companies, GMAC, which offers automotive, mortgage and business financing and insurance services to customers worldwide. More information on GM's environmental performance and partnerships can be found at www.GMability.com.