Norfolk Southern Corp
Norfolk Southern's GHG Emissions Data Preview
In 2023, Norfolk Southern completed a corporate carbon footprint assessment and publicly disclosed its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions according to the GHG Protocol, covering Scope 1 (direct emissions from owned or controlled sources), Scope 2 (indirect emissions from purchased energy) and Scope 3 (indirect emissions across the value chain).
Norfolk Southern has also provided a category-level breakdown for 8 out of 15 Scope 3 emissions categories, offering greater transparency into its value chain emissions.
| Metric (tCO2e) | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 - 2017 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Total Scope 1 | Copy restricted. Please purchase to unlock this data.  a | Copy restricted. Please purchase to unlock this data.  | Copy restricted. Please purchase to unlock this data. | 0000000 |
Total Scope 2 | ||||
Market-Based | Copy restricted. Please purchase to unlock this data. | Copy restricted. Please purchase to unlock this data. | Copy restricted. Please purchase to unlock this data. | 0000000 |
Location-Based | Copy restricted. Please purchase to unlock this data.  a | Copy restricted. Please purchase to unlock this data. | Copy restricted. Please purchase to unlock this data. | 0000000 |
Total Scope 3 | Copy restricted. Please purchase to unlock this data.  a | Copy restricted. Please purchase to unlock this data. | Copy restricted. Please purchase to unlock this data. | 0000000 |
Total Scope 1 Revenue Intensity (tCO2e/$M) | Copy restricted. Please purchase to unlock this data.  a | Copy restricted. Please purchase to unlock this data. | Copy restricted. Please purchase to unlock this data. | 0000000 |
aVerified Sources Behind Norfolk Southern’s Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions Data
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Insights into Norfolk Southern's Operational Emissions
In 2023, the total operational greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of Norfolk Southern amounted to 4,242,846 metric tons of CO2 equivalent. This figure includes both direct emissions from owned or controlled sources (Scope 1) and indirect emissions from purchased energy (Scope 2). a
Compared to 2020, the total operational greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of Norfolk Southern increased by 6.61%, suggesting that the company faced challenges in reducing its emissions from its core operations. a b c
Norfolk Southern's Scope 1 Emissions Over Time
- Total Scope 1
- Year-over-Year Change
What are Norfolk Southern's Scope 1 emissions?
In 2023, the total Scope 1 emissions of Norfolk Southern were 4,097,539 metric tons of CO₂ equivalent (tCO₂e). a
Has Norfolk Southern reduced its Scope 1 emissions over time?
Since 2019, Norfolk Southern's Scope 1 emissions have decreased by 14.35%, reflecting a declining long-term trend in Scope 1 emissions over time. a d
Compared to the previous year (2020), Norfolk Southern's Scope 1 emissions increased by 8.2%, suggesting that the company faced challenges in reducing emissions from its directly owned or controlled operations. a b
What are Norfolk Southern's Scope 2 emissions?
In 2023, Norfolk Southern reported Scope 2 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of 145,307 tCO₂e using the location-based method. a
Has Norfolk Southern reduced its Scope 2 emissions over time?
Since 2019, Norfolk Southern's Scope 2 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions ( Location-Based) have decreased by 27.88%, reflecting a declining long-term trend in Scope 2 emissions over time. a d
Compared to the previous year (2020), Norfolk Southern's Scope 2 emissions (Location-Based) fell by 24.75% in 2023, showing that the company has made progress in taking action to reduce the climate impact of its energy consumption. a c
What methodology does Norfolk Southern use for Scope 2 reporting?
In 2023, Norfolk Southern reported its Scope 2 emissions using the location-based method. a
Norfolk Southern's Scope 2 Emissions Over Time
- Total Scope 2 Location-Based
- Total Scope 2 Market-Based
Insights into Norfolk Southern's Value Chain Emissions
In 2023, Norfolk Southern reported 1,999,109 metric tons of CO₂ equivalent (tCO₂e) of Scope 3 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, representing indirect emissions across its upstream and downstream value chain. a
The 2023 disclosure of Norfolk Southern includes a breakdown across 1 of the 15 Scope 3 categories defined by the GHG Protocol, down from 8 in 2020, indicating a decline in reporting granularity and reduced insight into the company's full value chain emissions. a
Norfolk Southern's Scope 3 Emissions Over Time
- Total Scope 3
- Year-over-Year Change
What are Norfolk Southern's Scope 3 emissions?
In 2023, Norfolk Southern reported total Scope 3 emissions of 1,999,109 metric tons of CO₂ equivalent (tCO₂e). a
Approximately 100% of these emissions originated from upstream activities such as purchased goods and capital goods, while 0% came from downstream activities like product use, distribution, and end-of-life treatment. a
Has Norfolk Southern reduced its Scope 3 emissions over time?
Since 2019, Norfolk Southern's Scope 3 emissions have decreased by 69.51%, reflecting a declining long-term trend in Scope 3 emissions over time. a d
Compared to the previous year (2020), Norfolk Southern's Scope 3 emissions remained relatively stable, indicating that Norfolk Southern 's emissions have plateaued with no significant change in its value chain footprint. a c
What categories of Scope 3 emissions does Norfolk Southern disclose?
In 2023, Norfolk Southern reported emissions for 1 out of the 15 Scope 3 categories defined by the GHG Protocol. a
The limited disclosure restricts visibility into specific emission sources across the company's value chain.
What are the main sources of Norfolk Southern's Scope 3 emissions?
In 2023, the largest contributors to Norfolk Southern's Scope 3 emissions were: a
- Waste Generated in Operations (Cat. 5): 57,957 tCO₂e (100%)
Norfolk Southern's Scope 3 Emissions by Categories
Insights into Norfolk Southern’s GHG Emissions Intensity Compared to Industry Peers
In 2023, Norfolk Southern reported Scope 1 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of 4,097,539 tCO₂e and total revenues of USD 12,156 millions. This translates into an emissions intensity of 337.08 tCO₂e per millions USD. a
Norfolk Southern's Scope 1 Emissions Intensity Compared to Peers
How does Norfolk Southern's GHG emissions intensity compare to its peers?
In 2023, Norfolk Southern reported a Scope 1 emissions intensity of 337.08 tCO₂e per millions USD. Compared to the peer group median of 14.04 , this places the company above its industry benchmark, indicating it is less carbon-efficient than most competitors. a
Where does Norfolk Southern rank on GHG emissions intensity within its industry?
In 2023, Norfolk Southern ranked 22 out of 25 companies in its industry peer group, based on Scope 1 emissions intensity (measured in tCO₂e per millions USD). a
This places Norfolk Southern among the least efficient performers, with one of the highest emissions intensities in its sector. a
Insights into Norfolk Southern's Total Carbon Footprint
In 2023, Norfolk Southern reported a total carbon footprint of 6,241,955 metric tons of CO₂ equivalent (tCO₂e) across Scope 1, Scope 2, and Scope 3 emissions. This represents a 0.71% increase compared to 2020, suggesting a rise in emissions across its operations or value chain. a b c
The largest contributor to Norfolk Southern's total carbon footprint was Scope 1 emissions, accounting for 65.65% of the company's total carbon footprint, followed by Scope 3 emissions at 32.03%. a