Being net zero means adding no more greenhouse gases (GHGs) to the Earth’s atmosphere than the amount you’re taking out.

Greenhouse gases (GHGs) allow sunlight to pass into our atmosphere but stop the reflected heat from passing back out into space. Certain amounts of GHGs are useful at keeping our atmosphere within a stable temperature range and with predictable climate conditions. However, if concentrations increase, we see harmful warming of the atmosphere, climate instability and increased extreme weather events. Carbon emissions produced through human activities like industry, transport and agriculture are scientifically proven to be making this worse.

There are several types of GHG, but carbon dioxide (CO₂) is the most prominent, so we generally use the term ‘carbon emissions’. The global warming contribution of other GHGs is typically compared to how much carbon dioxide would have the same warming effect. This is why the term ‘kg carbon dioxide equivalent’ (kgCO₂e) is applied when accounting for all GHG emissions collectively.

Net zero targets are intended to help lessen the climate-changing effects and limit global warming to levels that are safer for the world’s human population and don’t threaten the stable, healthy ecosystems that we depend on.

Net Zero in Network Rail

Network Rail’s strategic objective is to contribute to achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2045 (Scotland) and 2050 (England and Wales).

Although rail is one of the lowest-carbon ways to travel, only contributing 1.4% to total UK transport emissions, we can still make a big difference. As well as reducing our own emissions we can also encourage passengers and freight away from more carbon-intensive methods of travel like road and air onto the railway. We need to do everything we can to minimise our reliance on fossil fuels, and transition to an industry powered by green, renewable, low-carbon energy to play our part in tackling the global climate crisis.

We will achieve our net zero ambition through several key approaches:

1. Net zero rail journeys – we want to reduce the emissions of rail journeys themselves by minimising our reliance on fossil fuels, and powering the network using green, renewable, low-carbon energy
2. Net zero transport strategy – we aim to support the modal shift to rail by working collaboratively to achieve end to end low-carbon journeys with other modes of transport. This will encourage freight growth and make our network more inclusive and accessible, whilst promoting rail travel to car users
3. Net zero operational assets – we want to minimise reliance on fossil fuels at our stations, depots, offices and our wider property portfolio. We are also committed to transitioning our road fleet and supporting rail systems
4. Net zero value chain – we want to work collaboratively with our supply chain to reduce the whole-life carbon emissions of goods and services we buy and the rail buildings and infrastructure assets that we build and maintain. We will consider the whole life carbon emissions of products, construction projects and engineering works, from tender all the way through procurement, contract award and into design and delivery
5. Systems to enable our net zero journey – to help achieve our objective we will put in place the necessary procedural mechanisms and data management systems to inform business decisions and monitor and measure our progress

Learn more about net zero carbon

Visit the Supply Chain Sustainability School to complete a free E-learning pathway “Introduction to Climate Change & Carbon” and other related E-Learning modules at: Rail Infrastructure – Supply Chain Sustainability School

Note. The first time you visit the Supply Chain Sustainability School website you will be asked to sign up for an account. It is totally free and will give you access to lots of learning resources!

See also What is ‘net zero’?

Related pages

I need to manage carbon reduction on an enhancement project
Measure and reduce carbon impacts
Route to Net Zero