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.
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.
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.
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.
In 2023, Kansas City Southern reported total carbon emissions of approximately 4,635,700,000 kg CO2e, with Scope 1 emissions accounting for about 4,635,700,000 kg CO2e, Scope 2 emissions at approximately 63,800,000 kg CO2e, and Scope 3 emissions totalling around 1,502,946,000 kg CO2e. 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. The company has also committed to a long-term target of reducing Scope 1 and Scope 2 greenhouse gas emissions by 42% per million gross ton-miles by 2034, using 2019 as a baseline year. This commitment aligns with the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) and reflects the company's dedication to sustainable practices within the rail transportation sector. Kansas City Southern's emissions data is cascaded from its corporate family, ensuring consistency and transparency in its reporting. The company continues to focus on reducing its carbon footprint while enhancing operational efficiency in line with industry standards.
Access structured emissions data, company-specific emission factors, and source documents
| 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2023 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scope 1 | 1,500,000,000  | 0,000,000,000  | 0,000,000,000  | 0,000,000,000  | 0,000,000,000  | 0,000,000,000  | 
| Scope 2 | 30,000,000  | 00,000,000  | 00,000,000  | 00,000,000  | 00,000,000  | 00,000,000  | 
| Scope 3 | -  | -  | -  | -  | 00,000,000  | 0,000,000,000  | 
Kansas City Southern's Scope 3 emissions, which increased significantly last year and increased significantly since 2021, demonstrating supply chain emissions tracking. 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.
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.

Common questions about Kansas City Southern's sustainability data and climate commitments