MONTREAL, Oct. 2, 2013 /PRNewswire/ - CN (TSX: CNR) (NYSE: CNI) has earned a position of leadership for the quality of climate change data it has submitted to the global marketplace through CDP, the world's only global environmental disclosure system.

The achievement was announced in the CDP Canada 200 Climate Change Report 2013, which tracks how Canada's largest listed companies are acting in response to a changing climate.

At the suggestion of 722 investors representing US$87 trillion in assets, CN took part in CDP's climate change program, designed to facilitate the management of greenhouse gas emissions and identify the risks and opportunities associated with climate change.

For the fourth consecutive year, CN has earned a position in CDP's Canada 200 Climate Disclosure Leadership Index. This annual index highlights the largest 200 companies listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (Canada 200) that have displayed a strong approach to the disclosure of information regarding climate change.

Claude Mongeau, president and chief executive officer of CN, said: "We are proud of our achievements over the past year and are pleased with the CDP's recognition of CN's leadership on disclosure for the fourth consecutive year. Delivering responsibly is a core element of our business agenda and environmental sustainability is a strategic priority for CN, which is focused on lowering emissions, increasing energy efficiency, reducing waste, and encouraging environmental stewardship among our employees.

"CN leads the North American rail industry in fuel efficiency, consuming, overall, approximately 15 per cent less fuel per gross-ton-mile than the rail industry average. CN is working hard to improve the fuel efficiency of its trains and is engaging its employees, through its EcoConnexions program, as part of its comprehensive plan to reduce its carbon footprint. CN is also testing locomotives fueled by natural gas to explore the feasibility of the technology."

Paul Simpson, chief executive officer of the CDP, said: "Canadian companies that score highly enough to be included in the Climate Disclosure Leadership Index are responding to the call for greater corporate climate accountability. They have demonstrated leading practice on the measurement of greenhouse gas emissions and energy use, and transparency of their climate change strategy."

The Canada 200 report including names of companies featured in the Carbon Disclosure Leadership Index can be found at www.cdp.net.

About CDPCDP, formerly known as the Carbon Disclosure Project, is an international, not-for-profit organization providing the only global system for companies and cities to measure, disclose, manage and share vital environmental information. CDP works with market forces, including 722 institutional investors with assets of US$87 trillion, to motivate companies to disclose their impacts on the environment and natural resources and take action to reduce them. CDP now holds the largest collection globally of primary climate change, water and forest risk commodities information and puts these insights at the heart of strategic business, investment and policy decisions. For more information, please visit www.cdp.net or follow the group @CDP to find out more.

About CNCN (TSX: CNR)(NYSE: CNI)  is a true backbone of the economy, transporting approximately C$250 billion worth of goods annually for a wide range of business sectors, ranging from resource products to manufactured products to consumer goods, across a rail network spanning Canada and mid-America. CN - Canadian National Railway Company, along with its operating railway subsidiaries -- serves the cities and ports of Vancouver, Prince Rupert, B.C., Montreal, Halifax, New Orleans, and Mobile, Ala., and the metropolitan areas of Toronto, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Calgary, Chicago, Memphis, Detroit, Duluth, Minn./Superior, Wis., and Jackson, Miss., with connections to all points in North America. For more information on CN, visit the company's website at www.cn.ca.

SOURCE CN