- Regulatory uncertainty.
- Progress on female representation in workforce is flat.
- Procurement difficulties for battery-electric locomotive batteries.
- Cost and supply challenges for biofuels.
- Climate change impacts (extreme weather events).
Union Pacific Railroad
Greenhouse gas emissions & sustainability report data
Figures are as stated in the company's own report and may use different boundaries, units or methods (for example market-based vs location-based Scope 2), so compare with care.
Renewable Energy
6.1% of total diesel consumption in 2023
of total energy
Waste
Over 350,000 tons of railroad ties annually (90% diverted from landfills)
2023
📈 Emissions by Report Period
| Report period | Headline emissions figure reported |
|---|---|
| 2016 | 9.9M tCO2e/year (Scope 1) |
| 2015 | 11.7M tCO2e/year (scopes 1 and 2) |
| 2014 | 12.7M tCO2e/year (fossil fuels) |
Each row is the headline figure extracted from a different report; scope coverage and methodology can change between years.
✅ Reported Environmental Achievements
- Reduced Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions by 0.8% vs. 2022; cumulative reduction of 19.1% since 2018 baseline.
- Reduced Scope 3 GHG emissions (target categories) by 0.8% vs. 2022; cumulative reduction of 12.1% since 2018 baseline.
- Increased full-year average biofuels utilization to 6.1% (vs. 4.5% in 2022).
- Repaired 141,487 parts, avoiding over $639 million in purchasing costs and 27,205 tons of new steel.
🎯 Climate & Sustainability Targets
🔜 Short-term
- Reduce absolute Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions by 50.4% by 2030 from a 2018 base year.
- Reduce Scope 3 absolute emissions by 50.4% by 2030 from a 2018 base year.
- Increase biofuels utilization to 10% by 2025 and 20% by 2030.
- Achieve full implementation of Energy Management Systems (EMS) by 2026.
- Complete modernization of 600 locomotives by the end of 2026.
📅 Medium-term
- Evaluate zero-emission locomotive technology feasibility.
🔭 Long-term
- Net-zero emissions (target not explicitly stated, but implied by 2030 goals).
🌱 ESG Focus Areas
SafetyServiceOperational ExcellenceClimate ChangeDiversity, Equity & InclusionCommunity EngagementEnvironmental StewardshipResponsible SourcingBusiness EthicsCybersecurity