CO₂ emissions of NS

For the CO₂ calculations, we work according to the guidelines from the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Protocol, the global standard for determining greenhouse gas emissions at a company level. When measuring CO₂, we distinguish between Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions in accordance with the GHG Protocol.

• Scope 1: these are the emissions we cause ourselves, such as gas-fired heating in buildings.

• Scope 2: these are the emissions generated in the production of the energy NS uses. This includes the electricity we buy for our trains and buildings.

• Scope 3: these are the emissions generated by the activities of other chain parties as a result of NS’s operations, e.g. in the manufacture of trains or building materials for station renovations. Scope 3 also includes emissions from our passengers' transport before and after their train journey.

We look at CO₂ emissions and CO₂ equivalents in all scopes. This means that in addition to CO₂, other relevant greenhouse gases (such as CH₄, N₂O, HFCs, PFCs, SF₆ and NF₃), if relevant, are also included and expressed as CO₂ equivalents. Where possible, emission factors from the platform CO2emissiefactoren.nl are used. The 'operational control' approach was used to consolidate emissions. 

Total (location-based) emissions were 838 kilotonnes in 2024, 0.9% higher than in 2023. This is mainly attributable to chain emissions in scope 3, as a result of growing emissions from transport before and after the train journey (due to more passenger kilometres) and higher emissions from capital goods (due to the purchase of new rolling stock and construction projects). This increase is only partly offset by a decrease in traction energy in scope 2, mainly due to greening of the electricity mix. Compared to the reference year 2019 (the last year before the COVID-19 pandemic), there is an average annual reduction of 4.1% in scope 1 (target: 4.2%), 6.6% in scope 2 (target: 4.2%) and 2.6% in scope 3 (target: 2.5%). NS is therefore reducing its emissions in line with the science-based targets it has set.*

• *Our short-term science-based targets for 2030 are a 46.2% reduction in scope 1 and 2 (in line with the 1.5°C scenario) and a 27.5% reduction in scope 3 (in line with the well-below 2°C scenario) compared to 2019. Our long-term science-based targets are a reduction of at least 90% for scope 1 and 2 by 2040 and for scope 3 by 2050 (in line with the 1.5°C scenario). NS's goal is to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. In other words, a reduction of at least 90% by 2050 compared to 2019, plus offsetting of the remaining emissions.

• 1NS reports on all relevant scope 3 categories. The table above shows no emissions in a number of scope 3 categories. There are three reasons for this:
  (a) relevant emissions are already reported in another category in this table (category 8 - upstream leased assets; category 12 - end-of-life processing of sold products; category 14 - franchises)
  (b) the category does not apply (category 10 - processing of products sold), or
  (c) emissions are estimated to be immaterial (category 11 - use of products sold; category 15 - investments).

Scope 1 emissions

Our scope 1 emissions were 12 kilotonnes of CO₂ in 2024 (2023: 13 kilotonnes*). Of this, 9 kilotonnes came from fuel consumption by vehicles and building heating systems and the rest from refrigerants (substances used to transport heat in cooling and climate control systems).

• *The difference in emissions compared to figures in the 2023 annual report is due to the use of a new method. From this year onwards, Well-To-Tank (WTT) emissions from fuels will be reported in scope 3 (as required by the GHG protocol). In addition, refrigerants have been added to the CO₂ inventory this year. These can still contribute to climate change in the event of leaks, even in small amounts, due to their often high global warming potential.

Scope 2 emissions

Measurement methods

We calculate scope 2 emissions in two ways:

• Location-based: this method calculates emissions based on average energy generation in the Netherlands, without distinguishing between green and grey energy contracts. 

• Market-based: this method takes into account the contractual agreements concluded by NS for the purchase of electricity, including any guarantees of origin that prove the electricity was generated from renewable sources.

NS also uses a third measurement method. This method takes into account the simultaneity of energy generation and consumption:

• Matching: the CO₂ emissions from the hours where we consumed less energy than was generated from renewable energy and thus relied on fossil sources.

Results

Location-based: using this metric, our total emissions in 2024 were 328 kilotonnes of CO₂ (2023: 349 kilotonnes*). Of this, 310 kilotonnes comes from running trains and 18 kilotonnes from electricity in buildings. The 2024 figures are 5.9% lower than those for 2023, largely because the share of renewables in the Dutch energy mix has increased. Absolute electricity consumption in 2024 was 1.1% higher than in 2023 but fell per passenger-kilometre.

Market-based: in 2024, the amount of electricity NS consumed on an annual basis was equal to the amount of renewable electricity produced by our energy supplier and allocated to us. This resulted in market-based emissions of almost 0 kilotonnes of CO₂.

Matching: in 2024, traction hour-matching was around 70.5%. This means that last year we relied on fossil electricity sources about 29.5% of the time (in hours), which corresponds with hour-matching scope 2 emissions of 97 of CO₂.

• *The difference in emissions compared to figures in the 2023 annual report is due to the use of a new method. From this year, WTT emissions from purchased electricity will be reported in scope 3, as for fuels. A different emission factor will also be used.

Scope 3 emissions

We gathered information about our scope 3 emissions for the first time in 2024, including retroactively for 2023 and 2019. This amounted to 498 kilotonnes of CO₂ (2023: 469 kilotonnes). The largest share comes from purchased goods, services and capital goods (262 kilotonnes). This includes new trains, train components, construction projects and operating assets. Passenger transport before and after the train journey (172 kilotonnes) was also a major source of emissions in NS's chain. This concerns the CO₂ emissions generated by transport before and after the journey of train passengers travelling to and from NS stations by methods such as bus, electric or fuel car, tram and metro. Other significant components of scope 3 emissions are WTT emissions from fuel and energy-related activities (21 kilotonnes) and energy consumption by external tenants at stations (19 kilotonnes). Emissions from replacement bus services amounts to 6 kilotonnes. The remainder (18 kilotonnes) consists of business travel and commuting, transport and distribution of purchased goods, and waste.

Chain emissions in scope 3 rose by 6.2% compared to 2023 as a result of growing emissions from transport before and after the train journey (due to more passenger-kilometres) and higher emissions from capital goods (due to the purchase of new rolling stock and construction projects).

CO₂ emissions per passenger kilometre

The following table shows the CO₂ emissions per passenger-kilometre based on running trains (traction energy and replacement bus services) and based on NS's total scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions. This allows us to compare emissions from train journeys with other modes of transport. By comparison: whereas NS's emissions per passenger-kilometre for running trains are 0 grams of CO₂, an average car emits 147 grams of CO₂ per passenger-kilometre.

Governance of corporate sustainability

The CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) Council is NS’s policy preparation body for sustainable enterprise. The Council comprises the business unit and staff department directors (or their delegates) and its meetings are chaired by the Executive Board member responsible for CSR. Progress and development in sustainability results are monitored and managed through the regular planning, control and reporting cycle. Every quarter, the CSR Council discusses the CSR report on sustainability performance. Where necessary, proposed decisions and policies are submitted for approval to the Executive Board. The quarterly report is also shared with the Executive Board. Sustainability reports are usually submitted to the Supervisory Board or RAC twice a year. The Director of Commerce and Development was responsible for corporate sustainability until July 2024. This responsibility then passed to the Finance Director in August. In accordance with the Corporate Governance Code, the Executive Board is responsible for the aspects of Corporate Social Responsibility that are relevant to NS. The Executive Board reports on these matters to the Supervisory Board and the General Meeting.