OMAHA, Neb. — Union Pacific Railroad has joined the Global Environmental Management Initiative (GEMI), an organization of leading companies dedicated to fostering global environmental, health and safety and sustainability excellence.
“GEMI’s mission of business helping business achieve environmental sustainability excellence aligns very well with Union Pacific’s environmental management strategies and practices,” said Bob Grimaila, Union Pacific vice president – Safety, Security and Environment. “We look forward to collaborating with GEMI members from other industries as we continue to improve our role as an environmentally responsible freight transportation leader.”
Railroads provide the most fuel efficient and environmentally responsible mode of ground freight transportation and Union Pacific is an industry leader in developing environmental management practices and technology. For example, Union Pacific pioneered the Genset switching locomotive, which uses ultra-low emissions, EPA-certified, off-road diesel engines. The Genset can reduce emissions of oxides of nitrogen by 80 percent and particulate matter by 90 percent while reducing fuel use by 37 percent. Union Pacific’s fleet of more than 160 Gensets represents approximately half of all Gensets operating worldwide.
In addition, Union Pacific employs a comprehensive fuel-efficiency strategy for its more than 8,000 locomotives across its 32,100-mile rail network, and implements an environmental management process that includes systems and employee training to help reduce the company’s environmental impact.
