{"id":8084,"date":"2016-11-02T15:58:43","date_gmt":"2016-11-02T19:58:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/digital.hbs.edu\/platform-rctom\/submission\/climate-change-and-general-motors-when-to-step-on-the-gas-pedal\/"},"modified":"2016-11-04T17:53:56","modified_gmt":"2016-11-04T21:53:56","slug":"climate-change-and-general-motors-when-to-step-on-the-gas-pedal","status":"publish","type":"hck-submission","link":"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/submission\/climate-change-and-general-motors-when-to-step-on-the-gas-pedal\/","title":{"rendered":"Climate Change and General Motors \u2013 When to Step on the Gas Pedal?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>As a roadmap to guide our conversation, we\u2019ll first start with defining climate change in a broad sense and the impact is has had to date. Next, we\u2019ll address the projected role it will play in our lives going forward based on the latest estimates. Following this overview, we will discuss the role automobile manufacturers have had in climate change, as well as the mitigating steps some, like General Motors, have taken thus far. Finally, we will consider future challenges that General Motors will face in implementing measures to further lessen its impact on our environment.<\/p>\n<p>Climate change, at the most elemental level, is the respiration or combustion reaction that separates CO\u2082 from organic material (See Exhibit I). <a href=\"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2016\/11\/Exhibit-I.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-8088 \" src=\"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2016\/11\/Exhibit-I.png\" alt=\"exhibit-i\" width=\"247\" height=\"63\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2016\/11\/Exhibit-I.png 1654w, https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2016\/11\/Exhibit-I-300x76.png 300w, https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2016\/11\/Exhibit-I-768x195.png 768w, https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2016\/11\/Exhibit-I-1024x261.png 1024w, https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2016\/11\/Exhibit-I-600x153.png 600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 247px) 100vw, 247px\" \/><\/a>Referencing Exhibit I on the left, \u201cwhen this reaction proceeds to the right, it is the fixation of carbon to organic matter by plants via photosynthesis; when it proceeds to the left, it is respiration or combustion of that organic matter.\u201d<a href=\"#_ftn1\" name=\"_ftnref1\">[1]<\/a> In essence, as long as we continue to produce CO\u2082 faster than nature can drain it away, the planet will warm.<a href=\"#_ftn2\" name=\"_ftnref2\">[2]<\/a> As far as repercussions, \u201cin 2016, the Earth experienced its third-consecutive hottest year since recordkeeping began[, and] there is broad consensus in the scientific community that this warming has been largely driven by increases in\u2026carbon dioxide.\u201d<a href=\"#_ftn3\" name=\"_ftnref3\">[3]<\/a><\/p>\n<p>The impacts the temperature increases have had to date are far reaching and historically significant, from rising sea levels and increases in extreme weather events to pressures on food and water supply and the extinction of numerous flora and fauna. If no meaningful efforts are taken to curb the effects of climate change, the latest estimates from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change predict that \u201cCO\u2082 [equivalent] concentrations are likely to increase to&#8230;over 1,300 ppm by 2100. If this occurs, by 2100 the planet may experience global mean surface temperature increases of 3.7\u2070 to 7.8\u2070C (6.7\u2070 to 14\u2070 F) compared to pre-industrial levels.\u201d<a href=\"#_ftn4\" name=\"_ftnref4\">[4]<\/a> While these estimates are based on numerous assumptions, it does not lessen the continued significance and impact climate change will have on our natural resources.<\/p>\n<p>The leading causes of climate change are diverse, but transportation accounts for 26% of CO\u2082 emissions in the United States, second only to electricity, which contributes 30%.<a href=\"#_ftn5\" name=\"_ftnref5\">[5]<\/a> Automobile manufacturers have however taken steps in an attempt to mitigate the impact of their industry. For example, based on its 2015 Sustainability Report, General Motors has increased the number of electrified U.S. vehicles by 9%, added three new vehicles that can achieve EPA-estimated 40 mpg highway or better, and reduced the average tailpipe CO\u2082 emissions of its U.S. fleet by 7.4%.<a href=\"#_ftn6\" name=\"_ftnref6\">[6]<\/a> General Motors has also invested in solar and wind powered manufacturing plants to further mitigate its net impact on the environment. However, General Motors and automobile manufacturers alike face increasing challenges going forward, particularly in regards to new regulatory standards as well as broad consumer purchasing behavior.<\/p>\n<p>New regulatory standards in fuel economy, with a target of 54.5 miles per gallon (mpg) by 2025, place a large burden of compliance on automakers, particularly given that the average fuel economy of vehicles sold in April of 2015 was 25.2 mpg.<a href=\"#_ftn7\" name=\"_ftnref7\">[7]<\/a> Even though the 54.5 mpg target translates to 40 mpg in terms of real world driving, it still represents an ambitious goal\u2014a goal that will force GM and others to adopt even more aggressive carbon reducing strategies. The biggest challenge, however, may come in the form of ultimate consumer demand. The hybrid and electric vehicles market represented less than 2% of U.S. sales as of summer 2015.<a href=\"#_ftn8\" name=\"_ftnref8\">[8]<\/a> General Motors cannot then simply produce the necessary vehicles to meet the standards, it has to sell them too\u2014a task made all the more difficult thanks to current low gasoline prices.<\/p>\n<p>As potential solutions, GM should put more effort towards educating the broad consumer market on the impacts of climate change, perhaps partnering with the regulatory bodies themselves to get across a unified message. At the same time, General Motors stands to gain by differentiating itself from its U.S. competitors by taking a strong stance in the marketplace and innovating around traditionally uneconomical vehicles such as SUVs and pickup trucks. However, given the apparent disconnect between the standards and U.S. consumer demand as it exists today, what do you think is the ultimate responsibility of automakers, like General Motors, in regards to climate change? Should they bear the burden of leading the charge for change?<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>736 words<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2016\/11\/Exhibit-II-1.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-8089 \" src=\"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2016\/11\/Exhibit-II-1.png\" alt=\"exhibit-ii\" width=\"883\" height=\"328\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2016\/11\/Exhibit-II-1.png 3033w, https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2016\/11\/Exhibit-II-1-300x112.png 300w, https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2016\/11\/Exhibit-II-1-768x286.png 768w, https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2016\/11\/Exhibit-II-1-1024x381.png 1024w, https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2016\/11\/Exhibit-II-1-600x223.png 600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 883px) 100vw, 883px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\">Sources:<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"#_ftnref1\" name=\"_ftn1\">[1]<\/a> \u201cAtmospheric and Oceanic Sciences and Center for Climatic Research\u201d, IPCC AR4 (2007), Last accessed 1\/5\/2012.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"#_ftnref2\" name=\"_ftn2\">[2]<\/a> &#8220;The Carbon Bathtub,&#8221; National Geographic, December 2009, http:\/\/ngm.nationalgeographic.com\/big-idea\/05\/carbon-bath, Last accessed 1\/5\/2012.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"#_ftnref3\" name=\"_ftn3\">[3]<\/a> Rebecca M. Henderson, Sophus A. Reinert, Polina Dekhtyar, and Amram Migdal, \u201cClimate Change in 2016: Implications for Business,\u201d HBS No. 317-032 (Boston: 性视界 Business School Publishing, 2016), p. 2.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"#_ftnref4\" name=\"_ftn4\">[4]<\/a> Ibid., p. 3.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"#_ftnref5\" name=\"_ftn5\">[5]<\/a> Ibid., p. 7.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"#_ftnref6\" name=\"_ftn6\">[6]<\/a> General Motors, 2015 Sustainability Report, p. 56.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"#_ftnref7\" name=\"_ftn7\">[7]<\/a> Mike Spector 2016, \u201cFuel-Economy Debate Comes to a Head\u201d, Wall Street Journal &#8211; Online Edition, 25 May, Business Source Complete, EBSCOhost, viewed 23 October 2016.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"#_ftnref8\" name=\"_ftn8\">[8]<\/a> Ibid., p. 2.<\/p>\n<p>[9] Rebecca M. Henderson, Sophus A. Reinert, Polina Dekhtyar, and Amram Migdal, \u201cClimate Change in 2016: Implications for Business,\u201d HBS No. 317-032 (Boston: 性视界 Business School Publishing, 2016), p. 17.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>What is the role of automakers, like General Motors, in stemming the effects of climate change? Should they bear the ultimate responsibility?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2687,"featured_media":8085,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","categories":[217,116,1218,1255,741,157],"class_list":["post-8084","hck-submission","type-hck-submission","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-auto","category-automotive","category-climate-change","category-gm","category-natural-gas","category-oil-and-gas"],"connected_submission_link":"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/assignment\/climate-change-challenge-2016\/","yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.3 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Climate Change and General Motors \u2013 When to Step on the Gas Pedal? - Technology and Operations Management<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/submission\/climate-change-and-general-motors-when-to-step-on-the-gas-pedal\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Climate Change and General Motors \u2013 When to Step on the Gas Pedal? - Technology and Operations Management\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"What is the role of automakers, like General Motors, in stemming the effects of climate change? Should they bear the ultimate responsibility?\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/submission\/climate-change-and-general-motors-when-to-step-on-the-gas-pedal\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Technology and Operations Management\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2016-11-04T21:53:56+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2016\/11\/featured-image-1.png\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"423\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"308\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/png\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"4 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/d3.harvard.edu\\\/platform-rctom\\\/submission\\\/climate-change-and-general-motors-when-to-step-on-the-gas-pedal\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/d3.harvard.edu\\\/platform-rctom\\\/submission\\\/climate-change-and-general-motors-when-to-step-on-the-gas-pedal\\\/\",\"name\":\"Climate Change and General Motors \u2013 When to Step on the Gas Pedal? - Technology and Operations Management\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/d3.harvard.edu\\\/platform-rctom\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/d3.harvard.edu\\\/platform-rctom\\\/submission\\\/climate-change-and-general-motors-when-to-step-on-the-gas-pedal\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/d3.harvard.edu\\\/platform-rctom\\\/submission\\\/climate-change-and-general-motors-when-to-step-on-the-gas-pedal\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/d3.harvard.edu\\\/platform-rctom\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/4\\\/2016\\\/11\\\/featured-image-1.png\",\"datePublished\":\"2016-11-02T19:58:43+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2016-11-04T21:53:56+00:00\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/d3.harvard.edu\\\/platform-rctom\\\/submission\\\/climate-change-and-general-motors-when-to-step-on-the-gas-pedal\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/d3.harvard.edu\\\/platform-rctom\\\/submission\\\/climate-change-and-general-motors-when-to-step-on-the-gas-pedal\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/d3.harvard.edu\\\/platform-rctom\\\/submission\\\/climate-change-and-general-motors-when-to-step-on-the-gas-pedal\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/d3.harvard.edu\\\/platform-rctom\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/4\\\/2016\\\/11\\\/featured-image-1.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/d3.harvard.edu\\\/platform-rctom\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/4\\\/2016\\\/11\\\/featured-image-1.png\",\"width\":423,\"height\":308},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/d3.harvard.edu\\\/platform-rctom\\\/submission\\\/climate-change-and-general-motors-when-to-step-on-the-gas-pedal\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/d3.harvard.edu\\\/platform-rctom\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Submissions\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/d3.harvard.edu\\\/platform-rctom\\\/submission\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":3,\"name\":\"Climate Change and General Motors \u2013 When to Step on the Gas Pedal?\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/d3.harvard.edu\\\/platform-rctom\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/d3.harvard.edu\\\/platform-rctom\\\/\",\"name\":\"Technology and Operations Management\",\"description\":\"MBA Student Perspectives\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"性视界Action\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/d3.harvard.edu\\\/platform-rctom\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Climate Change and General Motors \u2013 When to Step on the Gas Pedal? - Technology and Operations Management","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/submission\/climate-change-and-general-motors-when-to-step-on-the-gas-pedal\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Climate Change and General Motors \u2013 When to Step on the Gas Pedal? - Technology and Operations Management","og_description":"What is the role of automakers, like General Motors, in stemming the effects of climate change? Should they bear the ultimate responsibility?","og_url":"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/submission\/climate-change-and-general-motors-when-to-step-on-the-gas-pedal\/","og_site_name":"Technology and Operations Management","article_modified_time":"2016-11-04T21:53:56+00:00","og_image":[{"width":423,"height":308,"url":"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2016\/11\/featured-image-1.png","type":"image\/png"}],"twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Est. reading time":"4 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/submission\/climate-change-and-general-motors-when-to-step-on-the-gas-pedal\/","url":"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/submission\/climate-change-and-general-motors-when-to-step-on-the-gas-pedal\/","name":"Climate Change and General Motors \u2013 When to Step on the Gas Pedal? - Technology and Operations Management","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/submission\/climate-change-and-general-motors-when-to-step-on-the-gas-pedal\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/submission\/climate-change-and-general-motors-when-to-step-on-the-gas-pedal\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2016\/11\/featured-image-1.png","datePublished":"2016-11-02T19:58:43+00:00","dateModified":"2016-11-04T21:53:56+00:00","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/submission\/climate-change-and-general-motors-when-to-step-on-the-gas-pedal\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/submission\/climate-change-and-general-motors-when-to-step-on-the-gas-pedal\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/submission\/climate-change-and-general-motors-when-to-step-on-the-gas-pedal\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2016\/11\/featured-image-1.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2016\/11\/featured-image-1.png","width":423,"height":308},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/submission\/climate-change-and-general-motors-when-to-step-on-the-gas-pedal\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Submissions","item":"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/submission\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Climate Change and General Motors \u2013 When to Step on the Gas Pedal?"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/#website","url":"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/","name":"Technology and Operations Management","description":"MBA Student Perspectives","potentialAction":[{"@type":"性视界Action","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/hck-submission\/8084","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/hck-submission"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/hck-submission"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2687"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8084"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/hck-submission\/8084\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8085"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8084"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8084"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}