Demonstrators from the USA and Brazil protested outside Volvo's annual meeting in Gothenburg, claiming Volvo no longer works toward net-zero emissions by 2040 and is critical that the company no longer refers to its previous commitment to achieve 50 percent electric truck sales by 2030. According to SVT Väst, Mary Peveto described seeing Volvo active in forums in the USA that work against the climate goals the company says it represents. Volvo was aware of the demonstrators outside the annual meeting, an official said.
The demonstrators allege that Volvo actively worked to weaken climate regulations in the USA and Europe through industry organizations. Volvo states that it stands by its ambitious climate goals and invests historically large amounts in technology development and industrialization of fossil-free transport solutions. The company added that working from within organizations is not double-dealing and is often more effective to influence from inside while being clear about its own positions.
We are here primarily because we want electrification to also be extended to the Amazon and to Brazil.
Volvo evaluates its memberships annually to ensure it is not part of any organization opposed to the Paris Agreement. Electric trucks account for about 2 percent of all truck sales, according to Sila Mesquita. Volvo remains heavily dependent on selling diesel vehicles, and diesel vehicles are linked to significant environmental damage in Brazil, Mesquita said.
According to SVT Väst, Sila Mesquita described wanting electrification extended to the Amazon and Brazil, and not having to use diesel cars that affect health. It is unclear what specific evidence the demonstrators have for their claims or which industry organizations Volvo has been part of that allegedly worked to weaken regulations. The current percentage of electric truck sales for Volvo compared to the 2% figure is also unknown.
We should not have to use diesel cars that affect the health of the people and traditional communities.
We see that they are active in forums in the USA that work against the climate goals they themselves say they represent. And we want them to know that we see this.
The agreement with us is 100 percent. All combustion of fossil fuels has a generally negative impact, it is neither geographically limited nor attributable only to diesel. We stand by our ambitious climate goals and we invest historically large amounts in technology development and industrialization of fossil-free transport solutions.
Working from within is not double-dealing... Our experience is that it is often more effective to take responsibility and influence from inside – and at the same time be clear about our own positions. The reason for us to be in interest organizations and work with influence in these contexts is that we want the transition to fossil-free to be given the best realistic conditions it can. We also evaluate our memberships annually to ensure that we are not part of any organization that is against the Paris Agreement.