{"id":12618,"date":"2021-10-31T16:40:01","date_gmt":"2021-10-31T15:40:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/advancedfleetmanagementconsulting.com\/eng\/?p=12618"},"modified":"2021-10-31T16:40:01","modified_gmt":"2021-10-31T15:40:01","slug":"sustainability-6","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/advancedfleetmanagementconsulting.com\/eng\/2021\/10\/31\/sustainability-6\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Sustainability Is as Vital as Safety \u2014 and How Volvo Is Taking Action to Fight Climate Change"},"content":{"rendered":"

A crystal white Volvo XC40 dangles from a crane 100 feet above a frozen Arctic landscape, prepared to address a pressing question: \u201cWhat is the ultimate safety test?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Suddenly, a crackling roar fills the air as a nearby ice shelf collapses, sending tons of ice plummeting into the water below.<\/span><\/p>\n

This dramatic scene is the centerpiece of a recent Volvo ad campaign announcing the company\u2019s plan to convert to all-electric cars. With the backdrop of crumbling ice, Volvo\u2019s answer to the safety question appears starkly on the screen: \u201cClimate change is the ultimate safety test.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The striking ad coincides with increasing urgency for drastic cuts in greenhouse gas emissions to prevent the worst impacts of climate change. That point has been underscored by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change\u2019s 2021 report, which calls for strong and sustained reductions in carbon dioxide (CO2) to help stabilize the climate. Meanwhile, intensifying storms, flooding, and wildfires around the world have provided further evidence of the need for decisive action.<\/span><\/p>\n

For automakers, this is a moment of self-reflection, and an opportunity to chart a new course.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cTransport is responsible for 25% of global CO2 emissions,\u201d says Stuart Templar, director of global sustainability for Volvo Cars. \u201cAs a mobility provider, we are part of the problem of climate change, and we need to be part of the solution.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

To that end, Volvo has unveiled an ambitious climate action plan, shifting toward fully electric cars and striving to become a climate neutral company by 2040.<\/span><\/p>\n

However, the drive toward sustainability is not new for Volvo. The Swedish vehicle manufacturer\u2019s efforts to reduce its environmental impact can be traced back more than 75 years.<\/span><\/p>\n

A History of Sustainability<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
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Volvo has long been recognized as a leader in automotive safety, from the introduction of three-point seat belts in 1959 to today\u2019s crash avoidance and mitigation technologies. At the same time, the company has been working to offset its environmental impact.<\/span><\/p>\n

For example, Volvo has been offering remanufactured exchange parts<\/strong> since 1945, when the company began renovating gearboxes in the Swedish town of K\u00f6ping. That novel idea has blossomed into one of the most extensive remanufactured parts programs in the industry, the Volvo Cars Exchange System.<\/span><\/p>\n

Other company milestones in sustainability over the decades have included:<\/span><\/p>\n