Our sustainability performance

Travelling on an NS train is carbon neutral: since 2017, all our trains have been powered by 100% green electricity. We need to do more if we want to become a zero-emission enterprise by 2040. That is why, both within our organisation and throughout the chain, we are committed to zero-emission, circular and green business practices. These are our key focus areas. We are doing this for and together with everyone. In addition, this year we have made avoided CO₂ emissions a performance indicator, allowing us to target reductions in CO₂ emissions.

We focus on purchasing zero-emission energy and on sustainable energy generation on our own land and energy efficiency. Another key pillar of our approach is striving for circularity. We aim to retain products for higher-value reuse in the cycle, including by finding a new destination for individual components wherever possible. To further increase our contribution to a green future, we are actively working to improve biodiversity at and around our stations.

Science-based targets

In February 2024, the NS climate change reduction targets received science-based target approval from the SBTi (Science Based Targets Initiative). This is confirmation that our company-wide emission reductions are in line with the latest IPCC climate science in both the short and long term. NS is therefore demonstrably doing its bit to meet the goals of the Paris Climate Agreement: staying well below 2°C global warming, with efforts to further limit the increase to 1.5°C.

Part of the science-based targets is that we disclose NS’s full climate footprint every year. In 2024 we gathered information about our own emissions (scope 1 and 2), but for the first time also the emissions caused in our supply chain (scope 3).