Two activist shareholder groups who work together in an attempt to force automakers to care about green issues - the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility and the Investor Network on Climate Risk Network (which includes the Connecticut State Treasurer's office) - have backed off of Ford. The groups are pleased with Ford's announcement that details how it will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 30 percent in the next dozen years. The groups had targeted FoMoCo for a shareholder resolution but Ford's public comments have put such plans on hold - the two groups even issued a joint press release (pasted after the break) that praises Ford's actions. Sue Cischke, who's been more than willing to talk to AutoblogGreen in the past, met with the activist groups last month, Reuters reports, and talked to them about how Ford will green up its offerings through spending most of its $6b annual R&D budget on technology that ups MPG or lowers CO₂ numbers.

While Ford has earned a reprieve here, GM remains in the groups' sights. We'll know more by the time GM's annual meeting takes place in June.