Only a few years ago, terms like “carbon neutrality,” “greenhouse gas” and “carbon footprint” were relegated to the world of scientists, environmentalists and green-leaning merchants.

Now they are on the lips of virtually every company in the global auto industry.

In boardrooms and shareholder presentations, in auto plants and component manufacturing settings from Tokyo to Paris, automotive executives and factory leaders are pursuing a shared goal: reducing their companies’ carbon footprints in the pursuit of cutting their individual CO2 emissions.

Automotive News looks at how this worldwide industry phenomenon has quickly taken shape and where it will lead automaking in the decade ahead.

–Lindsay Chappell