We operate the UK’s first high speed domestic rail service between Kent and London. High speed rail is at the heart of the Government’s plans to reduce the UK’s carbon emissions.

Climate change is one of the greatest challenges facing the world today. Reducing our environmental impact is an integral part of our Group strategy. It helps to ensure we are a responsible operator as well as realising significant cost efficiencies.

We have implemented a number of key energy efficiency projects across the Group this year which we estimate will reduce annual operating costs by approximately £5 million and CO₂ emissions by around 30,000 tonnes.

In addition, our progress will help mitigate the financial implications of the Carbon Reduction Commitment obligations which come into effect in April 2010.*

The Government has set legally binding carbon targets, to reduce UK greenhouse gas emissions by 80% by 2050. Transport now contributes a quarter of UK carbon emissions, with cars accounting for more than half of this. In contrast, buses and trains contribute less than 5%. More people on our services mean fewer car journeys on the road, reducing congestion and pollution.

We therefore have two key responsibilities: to deliver high quality services that provide attractive alternatives to car travel; and at the same time to provide those services in a sustainable and environmentally responsible manner.

• *The Carbon Reduction Commitment (CRC) is a proposed mandatory cap and trade scheme that will apply to large non-energy intensive UK organisations in the public and private sectors. It will apply to the Group’s site energy consumption.

In recognition of our commitment to operating responsibly, we have become the first UK public transport company to be officially certified with the Carbon Trust Standard after taking action on climate change.

The Carbon Trust Standard is the UK’s only independent certification recognising achievements in action on climate change by leading organisations in industry, commerce and the public sector. It is also the world’s first carbon award scheme that requires an organisation to measure, manage and reduce its carbon footprint and actually make real reductions year-on-year.

“We congratulate Go-Ahead in achieving the Carbon Trust Standard and challenge other organisations to follow their example and prove that they too are taking tangible steps to fight climate change.”

Tom Delay,
CEO, Carbon Trust