GM SHOWS DEEP CYNICISM ON CLIMATE CHANGE

Some context is needed for General Motors’ ballyhooed decision this week to withdraw its support for the Trump administration’s 2019 move to revoke a waiver that allows California to set stricter auto emission and air quality rules than the federal government. This is not a case of a giant corporation suddenly becoming enlightened and deciding it absolutely must be part of an international coalition seeking to limit vehicle greenhouse-gas emissions, a major cause of climate change. Rather, it’s GM recognizing Joe Biden’s defeat of Donald Trump means that the federal threat to California’s rule-setting is going away when Biden takes over on Jan. 20.

That realty is not the only reason to be cynical about GM’s announcement. As Michael Hiltzik’s column in the Los Angeles Times detailed, the company continues to support Trump’s bureaucratic rollback of auto mileage standards established by the Obama administration, which could take years to overturn. GM also continues to oppose tougher vehicle emission rules and has given no sign it will join Ford, Honda, Audi, Volvo, Volkswagen and

BMW of North America in working with California on how to comply with tougher standards.

The perverse thing about GM’s cynicism is that the company understands that the internal combustion engine that has ravaged the atmosphere over the past century is very likely on its way out in the U.S., Europe and most other wealthy nations. In 2017, GM announced a commitment to shift to selling electric vehicles exclusively. The manufacturer’s website ref lects a commitment to green values.

But it’s green as in money, not green as in environmentalism. GM passed up a chance to take a real stand earlier, and that shouldn’t be forgotten — whatever its glossy TV ads and corporate spin claim.