CN 2024 Delivering Responsibly Report on safety, emissions

In the CN 2024 Delivering Responsibly Report, released on Dec. 2 and published on the CN’s Delivering Responsibly page, the railway outlines how it is lowering emissions and reducing train accident frequency. The 2024 report also calls out more than 1 million hours of employee training as part of its safety and sustainability agenda.

This is reported by the railway transport news portal Railway Supply.

CN 2024 Delivering Responsibly Report: emissions intensity and renewable fuel use

Marking its 10th edition, the report reviews CN’s progress toward its sustainability commitments and safety targets. Among the headline figures is a 4% improvement over 2023 in Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions intensity.

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CN also notes that its renewable fuel use share reached nearly 10% of all fuel consumed, according to a company press release and coverage from Progressive Railroading, showing how the company’s emissions strategy combines efficiency measures with alternative fuels.

Safety performance and train accident frequency reduction in 2024

On the safety side, the Class I railroad recorded the second-best injury rate in its history, surpassed only by its 2023 performance, with 1.06 injuries per 200,000 person-hours. Over the same period, CN’s train accident frequency reduction in 2024 translated into an 8% year-over-year decline, bringing the rate down to 1.66 accidents per million train miles.

According to CN officials, both safety ratios are still on track to meet the company’s 2030 reduction benchmarks and are consistent with broader improvements in CN’s renewable fuel use and safety performance.

Training, wellness, accessibility and community initiatives

In 2024 the railroad introduced new behavior-based safety training aimed at reducing risks for front-line supervisors and expanded its employee wellness programs. It also completed accessibility upgrades at more than 30 facilities across Canada to make its network more inclusive.

Beyond these internal initiatives, the company contributed C$20 million to community initiatives and reported that 97% of its procurement and supply management team completed training on sustainable procurement practices, strengthening CN’s wider supply chain; CN’s ongoing safety and sustainability efforts are also regularly followed by Railway Supply.

Governance recognition and EcoConnexions Partnership Program 2025

CN’s governance record drew external recognition as well. The Globe and Mail ranked the company first among 215 firms listed on the S&P/TSX Composite Index, the benchmark Canadian stock market index, for governance practices. Alongside the report, CN also announced the 2025 EcoConnexions Partnership Program recipients — 34 shippers, suppliers and supply chain partners that the railroad credits with helping drive progress on climate action, reduce environmental impact and promote responsible business practices.

Taken together, the governance ranking and EcoConnexions Partnership Program 2025 show how the CN 2024 Delivering Responsibly Report links operational performance with broader environmental and social goals.

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