Why Detroit automakers will ignore Trump's climate change decision

Mark Phelan | Detroit Free Press

Show Caption Hide Caption Trump: Paris accord more about financial gain President Donald Trump says the Paris accord is more about other nations gaining a "financial advantage" over the U.S. than it is about climate change. (June 1)

U.S. automakers should — and almost certainly will — ignore President Donald Trump’s decision to abandon the Paris climate agreement. Doing otherwise isn't just bad for life on Earth. It's bad business.

Companies rooted in science and technology should acknowledge the mountain of data showing the planet is growing warmer at an alarming rate.

The evidence that human action is involved is overwhelming, but even if it’s wrong, the only downside to lower greenhouse emissions and fossil fuel consumption is a cleaner world for our descendants, as Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., memorably pointed out in one of his campaigns.

Trump said Thursday afternoon that he is withdrawing the U.S. from the landmark Paris climate agreement because, in his view, the deal is unfair to America and to "reassert America's sovereignty."

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Ford and General Motors quickly responded to Trump’s decision with statements putting them on the side of science and sustainability.

“GM will not waver from our commitment to the environment and our position on climate change has not changed. International agreements aside, we remain committed to creating a better environment.”

Ford: “We believe climate change is real, and remain deeply committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions in our vehicles and our facilities. Our commitment to sustainability is why we’re investing so heavily in electrification and adding 13 new electrified vehicles to our lineup.”

Tesla CEO Elon Musk, who was serving on two presidential councils, said in a tweet Thursday afternoon that he would resign from those posts.

"Climate change is real. Leaving Paris is not good for America or the world," Musk said in his tweet.

GM said CEO Mary Barra will continue to serve on the President’s Strategy and Policy Forum because it "provides GM a seat at an important table to contribute to a constructive dialogue about key policy issues."

What’s good for the Earth is also good for GM — and Ford. They — and Fiat Chrysler, which ducked controversy behind a mild statement by an auto industry lobbying group — engineer, build and sell their vehicles around the world.

American automakers must engineer their vehicles to global standards, even if the U.S. government wants to turn back the clock.

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China, which rushed to grab the mantle of environmental leadership Trump discarded, accounts for more than a million GM sales a year. Ford and Fiat Chrysler sell millions of vehicles a year in Europe. All three Detroit automakers have huge presences in South America.

None of the automakers can afford to develop one set of systems and technologies for the U.S. and another for the rest of the world. And none of them will. The investment and technology strategies they formed based on the Paris agreement will go forward.

Equally important, none of them can afford to be seen as a global pariah.

If the U.S. president disavows an agreement most of the world agrees with, U.S. brands should show that they are environmental leaders, even if the country they call home is not.

They should continue to invest in new, sustainable technologies that will dominate this century. Indeed, each of the Detroit Three have touted their commitment reducing the environmental impact of their manufacturing processes and vehicles for years.

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Trump’s pledge to reinvigorate coal mining in America is about as practical as it would have been if William Howard Taft had thrown his weight and prestige behind horseshoe making instead of promoting the auto industry when he became president in 1909.

Trump closed his statement by saying his retreat from environmental responsibility would be good for Detroit. He’s wrong, and Detroit’s automakers should prove it by accelerating their plans to reduce greenhouse emissions, around the world and at home.

Contact Mark Phelan: mmphelan@freepress.com or 313-222-6731. Follow him on Twitter @mark_phelan.