NS unveils 2020 sustainability report

Norfolk Southern Railway outlined its 2019 efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and take other sustainability measures in its 2020 Corporate Responsibility Report, released yesterday.

Among initiatives detailed in the report, the Class I noted that customers who ship with NS helped avoid almost 15 million metric tons of carbon emissions last year by choosing rail for their transportation needs instead of highway shipping. That equates to saving about 1.5 billion gallons of diesel fuel, NS officials said in a press release.

"It's a substantial reduction," said Josh Raglin, NS chief sustainability officer. "As companies continue to set climate goals around lowering their emissions, rail can be part of that solution."

Among initiatives detailed in the report, NS:
• invested $2 billion in its rail network to promote safe and efficient operations, modernize technology and support economic growth activities;
• tapped into Waze, a mobile navigation app, to provide alerts to motorists approaching grade crossings;
• transformed a stretch of eroded shoreline on the Elizabeth River at the railroad's Lamberts Point terminal into a green oasis for oysters and wildlife; and
• joined the Operation Clean Sweep Pledge aimed at eliminating plastic pollution with a goal of zero loss of plastic resin into the environment.

NS also has posted its 2020 filing with CDP, formerly the Carbon Disclosure Project.