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 42 is higher than 65% 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 4,097,539,000 kg CO2e, comprising 4,097,539,000 kg CO2e in Scope 1 emissions, 145,307,000 kg CO2e in Scope 2 emissions, and 1,999,109,000 kg CO2e in Scope 3 emissions. The company has set ambitious climate commitments, aiming to reduce its Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions to near zero by 2025. Additionally, Kansas City Southern plans to achieve a 30% reduction in Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions from 2020 levels by 2030. In terms of recent achievements, the company reported a 15% reduction in absolute Scope 1 and 2 emissions from 2019 levels by 2023. Furthermore, Kansas City Southern has committed to increasing its renewable energy usage to 30% by 2030 and aims for a 42% reduction in GHG emissions intensity per million gross ton-miles by 2034, based on a 2019 baseline. These targets are aligned with the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) and reflect the company's commitment to addressing climate change within the rail transportation sector. The emissions data and reduction targets are cascaded from Kansas City Southern's corporate family, ensuring a consistent approach to sustainability across its operations.
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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 | - | - | - | - | 000,000,000 |
| 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
A significant portion of their carbon footprint comes from suppliers and value chain emissions, with Scope 3 emissions accounting for 32% of total emissions under the GHG Protocol, with "Purchased Goods and Services" being the largest emissions source at 44% 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.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Kansas City Southern's sustainability data and climate commitments