CN posted ESG progress in 2022

CN late last week published a data supplement to its 2022 sustainability report, outlining the company’s performance on environmental, social and governance (ESG) goals.

The supplement updates the Class I’s progress against its 2030 sustainability targets and focuses on embedding sustainability in all areas of the business, CN officials said in a press release.

"Sustainability is in our DNA and delivering responsibly is at the heart of our commitment to create the railroad of the future. To us, that means serving communities in a sustainable manner and driving growth to build success for our communities, our employees, and our customers," said CN President and CEO Tracy Robinson.

Part of that commitment means setting ambitious targets and holding the company accountable for its performance, she added.

Following are some of CN’s key ESG targets and the progress made toward them in 2022:
Greenhouse gas emissions reductions — CN reduced its GHG emission intensity for Scope 1 and 2 by 2.0% from 2021, and has realized an 18% progress towards its 2030 target;
Waste — CN diverted 94% of its waste from landfill, nearly achieving its annual target of 95%;
Operational safety — CN’s 2022 train accident rate, based on FRA methodology, increased by 7% from 2020, and the railroad has realized a 26% progress towards its 2030 target;
Executive diversity — At 2022’s end, eight of the 30 executive management roles (or 27%) were held by women as CN continues to focus on increasing diversity through its succession planning strategies; and
Board diversity — At year's end, five of the 10 independent board members identified as women, plus 20% of current independent board members identified as visible minorities.

The data supplement can be downloaded via this link.