UP rates highest railroad score in S&P 500 climate change report

Union Pacific Railroad recently achieved its best performance in the CDP's annual Standard & Poor's 500 climate change report for the depth and quality of disclosed climate change data.

In the 2014 report, UP scored a carbon disclosure score of 99 out of 100, placing the Class I in the top 10 percent of all companies in the S&P 500 sample and earning the highest score among railroads, UP officials said in a press release.

The railroad's carbon disclosure score was a one-point improvement over last year's performance. The Class I maintained its B rating in CDP's performance band, which is rated on an A-to-E scale.

"Engaging stakeholders, including customers and employees, through our carbon disclosure, we reaffirm [our] resolve to continue innovating for environmental progress," said Bob Grimaila, UP's vice president of safety, security and environment.

In its sixth annual CDP disclosure, the railroad highlighted its technological, training and operational innovations to increase fuel efficiency. The railroad also shared its approaches to responsible water management, completing the CDP's water questionnaire for the first time.