Kansas City Southern Sustainability Profile
Kansas City Southern (KCS) is a prominent North American transportation company headquartered in the United States. Founded in 1887, KCS has established itself as a key player in the railway industry, primarily operating in the central and southern regions of the United States and extending into Mexico. The company focuses on freight transportation, offering a range of services that include intermodal, automotive, and bulk commodities. KCS is recognised for its unique cross-border capabilities, facilitating seamless trade between the U.S. and Mexico. With a strong market position, Kansas City Southern has achieved significant milestones, including its strategic mergers and expansions that enhance its operational efficiency. The company continues to innovate within the rail sector, making it a vital component of North America's logistics and supply chain infrastructure.
DitchCarbon Score
How does Kansas City Southern's carbon action stack up? DitchCarbon scores companies based on their carbon action and commitment to reducing emissions. Read about our methodology to learn more.
Industry Average
Mean score of companies in the Business Services industry. Comparing a company's score to the industry average can give you a sense of how well the company is doing compared to its peers.
Industry Benchmark
Kansas City Southern's score of 47 is higher than 69% of the industry. This can give you a sense of how well the company is doing compared to its peers.
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Kansas City Southern's reported carbon emissions
In 2023, Kansas City Southern reported total carbon emissions of approximately 4,635,700,000 kg CO2e. This includes Scope 1 emissions of about 4,635,700,000 kg CO2e, primarily from mobile combustion (about 3,983,000,000 kg CO2e) and stationary combustion (approximately 194,540,000 kg CO2e). Scope 2 emissions were reported at about 145,307,000 kg CO2e, while Scope 3 emissions totalled approximately 1,502,946,000 kg CO2e, with significant contributions from fuel and energy-related activities (about 1,132,884,000 kg CO2e) and purchased goods and services (approximately 103,316,000 kg CO2e). Kansas City Southern has set ambitious climate commitments, aiming to reduce its Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions to near zero by 2025. Additionally, the company plans to achieve a 30% reduction in Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions from 2020 levels by 2030. Notably, in 2023, Kansas City Southern reported a 15% reduction in absolute Scope 1 and 2 emissions compared to the base year of 2019, alongside a 6% decrease in emissions intensity. The company has also committed to reducing its GHG emissions intensity by 42% per million gross ton-miles by 2034 from a 2019 base year, a target aligned with the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi). These commitments reflect Kansas City Southern's proactive approach to addressing climate change and reducing its carbon footprint in the rail transportation sector.
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| 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scope 1 | 1,500,000,000 | 0,000,000,000 | - | - | - | - | 0,000,000,000 |
| Scope 2 | 30,000,000 | 00,000,000 | - | - | - | - | 00,000,000 |
| Scope 3 | - | - | - | - | - | - | 0,000,000,000 |
How Carbon Intensive is Kansas City Southern's Industry?
How Carbon Intensive is Kansas City Southern's Location?
Kansas City Southern's Scope 3 Categories Breakdown
Their carbon footprint includes suppliers and value chain emissions, with Scope 3 emissions accounting for 24% of total emissions under the GHG Protocol, with "Fuel and Energy Related Activities" being the largest emissions source at 75% of Scope 3 emissions.
Top Scope 3 Categories
Kansas City Southern's Climate Goals (2030 & 2050)
Climate goals typically focus on 2030 interim targets and 2050 net-zero commitments, aligned with global frameworks like the Paris Agreement and Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) to ensure alignment with global climate goals.
Kansas City Southern has established climate goals through participation in recognized frameworks and target-setting initiatives. Companies often set interim 2030 targets and long-term 2050 net-zero goals to demonstrate measurable progress toward decarbonization.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Kansas City Southern's sustainability data and climate commitments