CSO Blair Wimbush
Norfolk Southern’s sustainability program connects to a broad spectrum of corporate initiatives. In our fourth annual sustainability report, we offer a comprehensive review of our continuing progress toward industry leadership in fuel conservation, emissions reduction, efficient energy use, recycling, use of renewable materials, and environmental partnerships. Our steps toward best practices in corporate responsibility are interrelated in their effects on our present success and on our long-term ability to keep our national transportation infrastructure competitive for future generations.
I am pleased to report that we achieved significant strides in our four areas of primary focus since our last sustainability report. We reduced our greenhouse gas emissions by 3.9 percent per revenue ton-mile of freight in 2010, supported by our investments in more fuel-efficient locomotives and innovative information systems.
We’re seeing the benefits of our investments to improve energy efficiency in our facilities and now are concentrating on enhancing our climate control systems after a successful lighting system upgrade.
Our employees have assumed leadership in recycling and other programs that improve the company’s sustainability performance. They have done so in ways that have built teamwork through contests and other fun activities.
Our launch of an initiative with GreenTrees to plant more than 6 million trees in the Mississippi Delta demonstrates our increased community engagement.
Looking ahead, we’re mindful that we can do something beyond fuel-efficiency gains to have a positive impact on the environment and the communities we serve. We’ve decided to make reforestation a central component of our carbon mitigation strategy. That could include other reforestation activities conducted in cooperation with nongovernmental and governmental organizations.
Our long-term aim is to continuously strengthen connections with our stakeholders for the mutual benefit of our customers, our investors, our people, and the communities we serve.
Blair Wimbush, Vice President Real Estate and Corporate Sustainability Officer
