CN has been identified as a global leader for its actions and strategies in response to climate change and this week has been awarded a position on the Climate “A” List by CDP, the international not-for-profit organization that drives sustainable economies.
Thousands of companies submit annual climate disclosures to CDP for independent assessment against its scoring methodology. CN is among the nine per cent of corporations around the world participating in CDP’s climate change program to be awarded a position on the Climate “A” List.
One hundred and ninety-three companies appear on the “A” List in recognition of actions taken to reduce emissions and mitigate climate change in the past reporting year. The CDP data has been produced at the request of 827 investors with assets of US$100 trillion.
Luc Jobin, CN President and CEO, said: “We are pleased to be recognized by the CDP for the eighth straight year and proud of CN’s continued leadership on climate change action. Operating efficiently has been the hallmark of CN’s success and in the last decade we’ve reduced our rail locomotive carbon emission intensity by 19 per cent and remain approximately 15 per cent more fuel efficient than the industry average.
“We believe that rail can be an integral part of the climate change solution offering both environmental and economic advantages. Compared to other transportation modes, rail is the most fuel-efficient method of moving freight over land – on average, trains are approximately four times more fuel-efficient than trucks,” Jobin continued. “To leverage these benefits, we work with many of our customers, providing them with a carbon calculator that allows them to determine their emissions savings by switching freight from truck to rail.”
The Climate “A” List was released in CDP’s Out of the starting blocks: Tracking progress on corporate climate action report which establishes the baseline for corporate climate action. Companies’ progress on reducing emissions in line with the goals of the Paris Agreement will be tracked against this baseline in future annual reports.
CDP’s CEO Paul Simpson said: “We congratulate the 193 “A” List companies that are leading the charge towards our low carbon future. Companies are key actors in enabling the global economy to achieve its new climate goals, and the leadership of this group points the way for others to take bold action and capitalize on the many opportunities that await.”
The Climate “A” List, along with the climate scores of all companies publicly taking part in CDP’s climate change program this year, is available on CDP’s website.
CN was one of only three Canadian companies to appear on the “A” List. The others were Great West Life and Vermillion Energy.