By Railfan & Railroad Staff

OMAHA — Union Pacific has announced it will reduce its own emissions by 26 percent in the next nine years. On Feb. 10, the railroad announced that the Science Based Targets initiative — a partnership between CDP Worldwide, the United Nations Global Compact, World Resources Institute (WRI) and the World Wide Fund for Nature — had approved its goals determining how much and how quickly the company will reduce its own greenhouse gas emissions.

The railroad will reduce its own emissions by 26 percent based on a benchmark set in 2018. SBTi independently assesses corporate emissions reduction targets in line with what climate scientists say is needed to meet the Paris Agreement goals – limiting global warming to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels.

“As the world seeks to improve environmental sustainability, it’s critical for businesses to take action,” said Chairman, President and CEO Lance Fritz. “Although we move freight in an environmentally responsible way, we will not be complacent about our operations’ impact. We’re proud to solidify our commitment through actions that also will enable our customers to reduce their carbon footprint and protect the environment.”

Officials noted that railroads already are one of the most fuel-efficient means of transportation. Moving freight by rail instead of truck reduces greenhouse gas emissions by up to 75 percent. On average, Union Pacific moves a ton of freight 454 miles on a single gallon of diesel fuel.