NS touts “best-ever” carbon score

Norfolk Southern said Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2013 it has achieved its best-ever score in reports that grade large U.S. and global companies on how well they measure and manage their carbon footprint.

In CDP’s 2013 S&P 500 and Global 500 climate change reports, Norfolk Southern scored a 90 for its carbon disclosure, on a scale of 0-100. That is a 2% improvement over its 2012 score of 88, and is the company’s highest in the six years it has participated in the voluntary CDP survey, the Class I railroad said.

“As a responsible corporate citizen, Norfolk Southern strives to continuously improve the way we manage potential environmental impacts of our business operations, and we are pleased that this year’s disclosure score reflects those efforts,” said Blair Wimbush, NS vice president real estate and corporate sustainability officer.

Of 44 U.S. industrial-sector corporations in the CDP’s S&P 500 report, Norfolk Southern was among 14 that scored 90 or higher on carbon disclosure.

CDP, formerly known as Carbon Disclosure Project, is an independent not-for-profit organization that supports reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and the sustainable use of water and forest resources.

CDP awards performance grades of E to A to measure a company’s efforts to mitigate climate change and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Norfolk Southern’s 2013 performance grade is B, matching its 2012 and 2011 grade.

NS said that by the end of 2012, it had accomplished nearly 69% of its goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 10% per revenue ton-mile between 2009 and 2014. The company has invested in locomotive fuel-saving technologies, more efficient lighting, and energy systems in rail facilities, and network improvements that increase the capacity and fluidity of rail routes.

“We are taking a comprehensive, strategic approach to reduce emissions throughout our operation,” Wimbush said. “We are committed to maintaining a high-quality system that leverages freight rail’s inherent efficiencies in support of the economy, less highway congestion, and lower overall fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.”

Norfolk Southern’s 2013 corporate sustainability report is available here.