MONTREAL, Oct. 27, 2016 /CNW/ - CN (TSX: CNR) (NYSE: CNI) 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 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 chief executive officer, 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 chief executive officer 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.

More information about CN's CDP response is available online.

CN is a true backbone of the economy, transporting more than C$250 billion worth of goods annually for a wide range of business sectors, ranging from resource products to manufactured products to consumer goods, across a rail network of approximately 20,000 route-miles spanning Canada and mid-America. CN – Canadian National Railway Company, along with its operating railway subsidiaries -- serves the cities and ports of Vancouver, Prince Rupert, B.C., Montreal, Halifax, New Orleans, and Mobile, Ala., and the metropolitan areas of Toronto, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Calgary, Chicago, Memphis, Detroit, Duluth, Minn./Superior, Wis., and Jackson, Miss., with connections to all points in North America. For more information about CN, visit the Company's website at www.cn.ca.

CN and Sustainability 
Delivering Responsibly is one of the pillars of What CN Stands For. It determines how we conduct our business every day and defines our contribution to building a more sustainable future. A member of the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index and one of Canada's Top 100 Employers, CN's sustainability commitment is anchored in environment, safety, people, community and governance. CN trains are approximately four times more fuel efficient than trucks, reduce highway congestion and air pollution, and lower greenhouse gas emissions.

SOURCE CN