CSX, Norfolk Southern named to sustainability rankings

CSX announced yesterday it earned a spot on the 2023 Forbes Net Zero Leaders list.

Launched this year, the list names the top 100 U.S. companies that are focused on reducing their carbon footprint and achieving their sustainability goals, CSX officials said in a press release. The Class I ranked sixth.

The magazine used data from research providers Sustainalytics and Morningstar to create the ranking, which evaluates U.S. companies that are best positioned to reduce emissions and transition to a low-carbon economy by 2050. Criteria include the robustness of a company’s climate governance, strategy and risk management, and competitive strength and financial position.

Meanwhile, Norfolk Southern Railway was named to the 2023 USA Today America’s Climate Leaders list, which includes U.S. companies that achieved the greatest reduction in their core emissions intensity between 2019 and 2021.

Companies that made the list — out of 2,000 considered — were selected based on whether they met specific criteria for reporting and publishing emissions data, revenue and CDP rating. For those meeting the criteria, year-over-year emissions intensity reduction was calculated, NS officials said in a press release.

NS has established a target to achieve a 42% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions intensity by 2034 from a 2019 base year.