Virgin Trains has signed a pledge to reduce its carbon footprint and contribute to global targets to limit climate change.
The Railway Climate Responsibility Pledge is being presented at the United Nations Climate Summit in Paris this month by the International Union of Railways (UIC).
A ‘Train to Paris 2015’ campaign by the UIC is promoting trains as one of the most energy efficient modes of transport but acknowledges the responsibility of the industry to make further improvements.
David Horne, managing director for Virgin Trains on the east coast, signed the pledge. It commits the business to: reducing specific energy consumption and CO2 emissions; stimulating modal shift to rail in national and international markets; actively communicating climate-friendly initiatives undertaken by the company; and reporting data on energy consumption regularly to the UIC.
Horne said: “As a member of the UIC it is very important for us to make this commitment to help reduce our energy consumption. Though rail travel is one of the most efficient in terms of emissions, we will continue to work with our partners and stakeholders to improve things further and contribute to the UIC’s global targets to reduce and prevent climate change.”
As well as signing the pledge, Virgin Trains has sponsored a group of young professionals to travel to Paris to speak at the summit. Scotland’s 2050 Climate Group aims to inspire young people to become catalysts for change and champions for a low carbon future.
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