CPKC
CPKC on Dec. 11 announced that in its first year as a combined company, it has been named to the DJSI World and DJSI North America indexes for 2023.
This is the first year for the newly formed CPKC to be listed, according to CPKC, which was created with the combination of Canadian Pacific (CP) and Kansas City Southern (KCS) on April 14, 2023. In 2022, CP was listed on the DJSI World Index for the first time and the North America Index for the third consecutive year.
The DJSI World Index represents the top 10% of the largest 2,500 companies in the S&P Global BMI based on long-term economic, environmental and social criteria.
CPKC’s inclusion on the index, the Class I railroad says, results from “an ongoing organizational commitment to continuous improvement and reporting sustainability practices and performance.”
“We are incredibly proud that CPKC’s efforts in sustainability and climate action have been recognized with our inclusion in the DJSI World and North America Indices,” said CPKC President and CEO Keith Creel. “This has been a transformational year for our new, combined company and we remain committed to being an industry leader with our sustainability commitments as we grow our business for the future.”
CN
CN on Dec. 11 accepted the resignation of the members of the Indigenous Advisory Council (IAC), an independent body that provided insight and advice to the Class I railroad in its ongoing Reconciliation journey.
Reconciliation, CN says, is about “establishing and maintaining mutually respectful relationships, which starts with awareness of the past.”
CN published a formal Acknowledgement (download below) of the historical role railways played as instruments of colonial policies, as well as the intergenerational economic, cultural, and social effects that these policies have had on Indigenous communities. CN says it is “grateful for the privilege of operating within or adjacent to more than 220 reserve lands of nearly 130 First Nations and Métis Communities.”
According to the Class I railroad, CN was among the first major companies in Canada to establish an IAC, reflecting the company’s commitment to reconciliation and engagement. The IAC was established in 2021 with representation from Canada’s First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities.
“CN is committed to its journey towards Reconciliation,” said Olivier Chouc, CN’s Sr. Vice-President, responsible for Indigenous Relations. “That journey begins with a better understanding of history, and thoughtful commitments coupled with robust governance to measure our performance against those commitments.
“On behalf of the CN Board and our colleagues, we wish to thank all the IAC members for their significant and meaningful contribution as we envisage a path forward for our company. Systemic changes require commitment and competency and Indigenous people with lived experiences provide an invaluable and essential perspective in leading that change. We are grateful for the IAC’s perspective.”
To further the work and recommendations of the IAC, CN has built a team of nine managers, including Indigenous and regional representation. This team, the Class I railroad says, is focused on “developing and renewing respectful relationships with Indigenous communities across Canada and working on the development of CN’s Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP), along with CN leadership.”
In this first RAP, CN is building the foundation for its Reconciliation journey. A foundation that rests on five key pillars:
- Cultural Awareness and Employee Engagement.
- People and Employment.
- Community Engagement and Relationships.
- Economic Reconciliation.
- Environmental Stewardship and Safety.
CN says it intends to release its RAP in 2024, which will include specific, measurable initiatives, and intends to report on a regular basis on its performance against its commitments.
NS
NS recently contributed a lead gift of $500,000 to the Atlanta Fire Rescue Foundation’s (AFRF) “Fleet Forward” capital campaign. This initiative, the Class I railroad says, “aims to revolutionize the Atlanta Fire Rescue Department’s (AFRD) fleet by introducing cutting-edge electric fire engines and electric vehicle (EV) quick response vehicles.”
According to NS, the “Fleet Forward” campaign, which was launched on Dec. 6, with a target of $3 million, “seeks to modernize the AFRD’s equipment, marking a significant leap towards a safer, more sustainable and efficient firefighting force, ensuring optimal protection and service for residents, communities and businesses.”
According to AFRF, EV options are considered easier to service and repair than diesel trucks and align with the city’s commitment from 2017 to increase the EV readiness of the city to ensure that “Atlanta remains a leading city in sustainability.”
EV fleet integration, AFRF says, will generate:
- “Significant long-term cost savings.
- “50% less maintenance on average.
- “Reduction in the usage of diesel gasoline.
- “Minimized apparatus repairs.
- “A decrease in life safety issues such as carcinogens resulting from diesel fumes in and around fire station bays.”
Once completed, the “Fleet Forward” project, AFRF says, “will showcase AFRD as a fire and emergency response industry leader.”
“Norfolk Southern is focused on advancing safety and sustainability for our business, our customers, and the communities we serve,” NS President and CEO Alan Shaw. “The Atlanta Fire Rescue Foundation’s ‘Fleet Forward’ campaign is playing a critical role, helping to propel innovation and sustainability for the Atlanta Fire Rescue Department. This investment is also a symbol of our commitment to our first responders—heroes in our communities. Together, we’re making progress for a safer Atlanta.”
NS’s partnership with AFRF aligns with its company-wide commitment to safety, the railroad says. Each year, NS trains more than 5,000 first responders across its network, helping to ensure that they are prepared to respond to incidents safely and thoroughly. This year, the railroad also launched a new Safety First Grant Program, designed to support organizations and first responders that directly provide safety services or operate programs that promote safe behavior.
“The ‘Fleet Forward’ capital campaign will provide the city with the necessary blueprint and capital to significantly improve fire and emergency response through private and public support that leverages the best of innovation and sustainability in the fire industry,” said AFRFM Interim CEO Taos Wynn.
