Ford has announced that it is joining the First Movers Coalition, a global initiative to harness purchasing power and supply chains to create markets for innovative clean energy technologies.
The move is especially significant given that Ford is the largest automaker in the US and employs more hourly workers in the country than any of its rivals.
More than 50 companies with a collective market value for around $8.5 trillion across five continents have joined the Coalition. Ford is committing to purchasing at least 10% net-zero carbon steel and aluminium by 2030.
“Ford has a strong track record of firsts in automotive sustainability, from being the only full-line American automaker to stand with California in support of stronger vehicle emissions standards to being the first automaker to join the Department of Energy’s Better Climate Challenge and commit to reducing our manufacturing emissions earlier this year. And now as part of the First Movers Coalition, we’re targeting the environmental impact of our supply chain by investing in green steel and aluminium,” said Ford Chief Government Affairs Officer Chris Smith.
“Together this coalition has the potential to build the future of zero-emissions transportation that is good for people and the planet, and good for business.”
Led by the World Economic Forum and the US Government, the First Movers Coalition targets sectors including aluminium, aviation, chemicals, concrete, shipping, steel, and trucking, which are responsible for 30% of global emissions – a proportion expected to rise to over 50%by mid-century without urgent progress on clean technology innovation. According to the World Economic Forum, aluminium represents 2% of global emissions.
“Reducing emissions to carbon neutral by 2050 is possible if we invest in the right technologies and bring them to scale within the next decade,” said Ford Director of Supply Chain Sustainability Sue Slaughter.
“By joining the First Movers Coalition, Ford is signalling to the market that we want to work with our suppliers to achieve commercially viable green steel and aluminium. The intent and significance of our commitment today has the potential to help build the net-zero economy.”
