Breaking the Oil Addiction
Report from Global Exchange


There is no question that America is addicted to oil. Although the U.S. has less than 5 percent of the world's population, we consume more than 25 percent of the world's oil. If our consumption patterns don't change, in 20 years we will depend on other countries for 70 percent of our oil, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.

Like any addiction, our addiction to oil is dangerous. Oil addiction endangers our economy as the U.S. loses clean energy market share to companies in Japan and Europe. Oil addiction endangers our environment as rainforests are cut down to make way for oil wells and as we fuel global climate change. Oil addiction endangers human rights as communities who oppose petroleum extraction suffer repression. And of course oil addiction endangers our national security by chaining us to despotic regimes and pushing us into war. Ask yourself: Does oil addiction make us more safe, or less?

The best way to break the oil habit is by dramatically increasing the fuel efficiency of our cars and trucks, which guzzle more than 40 percent of all the oil we use.

Fortunately, breaking our addiction to oil is not rocket science. Workable alternatives to the carbon economy exist, but the U.S. auto manufacturers have recklessly refused to take advantage of them. If the carmakers were to put off-the-shelf technologies in their vehicles, they could increase average fuel efficiency to 40 mpg. If they converted their entire fleets to gasoline-electric hybrid vehicles, they could give drivers 60 mpg. Adopting hydrogen fuels could completely eliminate tailpipe emissions. But right now the only option for a patriotic American seeking to break our oil addiction and improve US national security is a Japanese hybrid car.

Global Exchange, in partnership with Rainforest Action Network, has launched a nationwide, grassroots campaign calling on Ford Motor Company and the rest of the auto industry to break our oil dependence. We're asking that Ford and its competitors improve the efficiency of their vehicles to 50 mpg by 2010 and to completely eliminate all greenhouse gas emissions by 2020.

Ford likes to think of itself as a company of "environmental heroes." But the company recently backed away from a promise to increase the fuel efficiency of its SUVs, and a typical Ford vehicle on the road today gets fewer miles per gallon than the Model-T did 80 years ago.

As a world's premier auto brand and a symbol of American entrepreneurship and innovation, Ford should be doing everything it can to take the lead when it comes to fuel economy. If we want a secure nation, a safe environment, and a strong economy, Ford needs to drive toward the clean energy future we all know is coming.

To become involved with the Clean Car Campaign, contact Jason Mark at 415-558-9490 or jason@globalexchange.org