Ford aims to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050

Ford Motor Co. on Wednesday announced a new goal to become carbon neutral by 2050.

A spokesman for the company said it is “working backwards” to design a plan for reaching the goal, which would focus on production emissions before addressing emissions from vehicles. 

“We don’t have all the answers yet but are determined to work with all of our global and local partners and stakeholders to get there,” Bob Holycross, Ford’s chief sustainability, environment and safety officer, said in a release. 

“We can develop and make great vehicles, sustain and grow a strong business and protect our planet at the same time — in fact, those ideals complement each other.”

The company will first work to reduce emissions at its facilities before moving to tackling emissions from the electricity it purchases. Part of the goal includes a commitment to switch entirely to renewable sources of energy by 2035.

The third phase of the plan will focus on reducing emissions from its vehicles, rather than seeking to offset them.

Ford is investing more than $11.5 billion in electric vehicles through 2022, aiming to offer zero emission versions of some of its most popular models, including the Mustang and the F-150.

The goal comes as the Trump administration in March rolled back mileage standards for vehicles, significantly decreasing the goals the government sets for automakers. 

Ford is one of four companies that has signed an agreement with California to produce vehicles that average 50 miles per gallon by 2026, while the Trump plan asks automakers to reach 40 mpg in the same time frame.