American railroad company Union Pacific has committed to achieving net zero by 2050.

It has had science-based targets approved by the Science-Based Targets initiative (SBTi) – including a 26% reduction in its Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2030.

The company is looking to improve the energy efficiency of its locomotive fleet, having invested $3.4 billion (£2.5bn) since 2010 in buying 1,300 new, more fuel-efficient equivalents.

It will look to implement low carbon fuels and have this make up 20% of its total diesel consumption by 2030.

Union Pacific has also pledged to help customers understand their carbon footprint more and demonstrate why rail will become the most environmentally friendly form of surface transport.

Lance Fritz, Chairman, said: “As the world takes action to address climate change, Union Pacific is taking thoughtful and deliberate steps to improve our environmental footprint.

“We experience first-hand the effects of climate change and are urgently working toward our shared sustainable future.”