Washington, United States —
Greenpeace released the following statement prior to the EPA’s awarding of the Climate Protection Award to Coca-Cola, McDonald’s and Unilever. The companies are being recognized for their leadership in developing technologies that reduce the global warming impact and energy usage of commercial refrigeration equipment. Current refrigeration units rely on hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), an emerging global warming threat. Scientists predict that by 2050, the global warming impacts of HFC pollution could be equivalent to all the passenger cars in the world today. As reported in the Wall Street Journal on May 4, 2005, Greenpeace played a critical role in forcing these companies to develop non-HFC refrigeration technology.
“While the Bush administration and Congress take their cues on global
warming from ExxonMobil, Southern Company and the auto industry, it’s
good to see Coca-Cola, McDonald's and Unilever stepping up with
solutions. We look forward to continued work with these companies to
reduce global warming emissions.
“Today’s EPA Climate Protection Award is an important acknowledgement
of the progress these companies have made to date in developing more
climate friendly refrigeration. Now, however, is the true test of
Coca-Cola, McDonald's and Unilever’s commitment to confronting this
issue; we urge them to implement this technology in North America,
where its use is most important, as quickly as possible.”
“We also call upon the Bush administration to support climate friendly
refrigeration as part of broader strategy to combat global warming.
“As always, Greenpeace approaches our relationships with these
corporations very deliberately and seriously. While we are proud of our
continuing work with Coca-Cola, McDonald's, and Unilever on green
refrigeration technology, it is obviously not a Greenpeace stamp of
approval on the overall environmental and social footprints of these
companies.”
