CN again named to Dow Jones Sustainability World Index
Written by William C. Vantuono, Editor-in-ChiefCN’s sustainability practices have earned it a place on the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index (DJSI) for the third consecutive year that the railroad has been listed on the DJSI World Index, and for the sixth consecutive year that it has been listed on the DJSI North America Index.
The DJSI, CN said, “follows a best-in-class approach, surveying sustainability leaders from each industry on a global and regional level. The annual review of the DJSI family is based on a thorough analysis of economic, environmental and social performance, assessing issues such as corporate governance, risk management, climate change mitigation, supply chain standards, corporate citizenship, stakeholder engagement and labor practices.” The DJSI World Index selects for inclusion the top 10% of the 2,500 largest companies in the Dow Jones Global Total Stock Market Index from each sector based on their sustainability score.
“’Delivering Responsibly’ is a core pillar of our sustainability strategy and ‘What CN Stands For,’” said CN President and CEO Claude Mongeau. “ We are committed to building on what we have achieved to minimize our impact on the environment, while providing cleaner, more sustainable transportation modes to our customers. So, it is an honor for CN again this year that DJSI has recognized us as a leader in the area.”
Mongeau said CN’s sustainability achievements “are marked by our continuing leadership in fuel efficiency within the North American rail industry, consuming, overall, approximately 15% less fuel per gross-ton-mile than the rail industry average. In addition to improving fuel efficiency, we are committed to engaging communities across its network through our ‘EcoConnexions From the Ground Up’ program, which, in 2014, sponsored tree-planting projects in 35 locations across the country, as well as the planting of 400,000 trees as part of a mass reforestation program. We also expect to make $2.25 billion in capital expenditures this year to improve service and grow the business. “
Launched in 1999, the Dow Jones Sustainability Indexes are described as “the first global indexes tracking the financial performance of the leading, sustainability-driven companies. The indices serve as benchmarks for investors who integrate sustainability considerations into their portfolios, and provide an effective engagement platform for companies who want to adopt sustainable best practices.”
