Top marks for Go-Ahead’s carbon cutting initiatives

The Go-Ahead Group has received an ‘A minus’ rating from CDP (formerly the Carbon Disclosure Project) for the second year in a row – the highest score of any UK public transport company.

CDP is an international, expert group that reviewed more than 13,000 companies worldwide for its 2021 rankings.

Go-Ahead has reduced CO₂ emissions per vehicle mile by 25% in just under five years (2016/2017 baseline) across its UK, Ireland and Singapore bus operations. The Group is the largest electric bus operator in the UK, and it owns one of the largest electric bus garages in Europe – Northumberland Park, in London – which is set to be the site of innovative ‘Bus2Grid’ technology.

Go-Ahead was the pioneer of ‘geo-fenced’ technology in Brighton with buses that operate in zero emission mode in the city’s clean air zone, and ‘air filtering’ buses in Southampton.  It has also ordered 20 hydrogen-fuelled buses that will come into service in Summer 2022.

The company saw a 5% improvement in Govia Thameslink Railway’s (GTR’s) electric fleet efficiency in 2019/2020 and is committed to improving carbon efficiencies in its rail fleets in the UK, Germany and Norway. 

Go-Ahead’s Commercial and Customer Director Mark Anderson said: “Public transport is part of the solution for fighting climate change and poor air quality. We therefore need to ensure we’re doing everything we can to provide green, clean services for our passengers. Our A minus rating shows there’s still more we can, and plan to do, to fighting climate change, but we’re well on our way.”

Go-Ahead’s 2021 climate change initiatives included:

• The launch of the group’s Climate Change Strategy, where it outlined its goal to be a net zero company by 2045. Its target to reduce emissions by 75% by 2035 was validated by the Science Based Targets Initiative in Summer 2021.
• Solar panel trials on buses in Southampton and Singapore
• ‘Rent a roof’ solar panel trials at Denmark Hill railway station and Oxford Bus Company’s Didcot depot
• Creation of a climate change taskforce involving senior managers from across our companies,
• A ‘Best Driver’ colleague competition at Go-Ahead London, where colleagues compete on a racetrack to see who can drive a bus the most efficiently
• Local energy saving initiatives – Manchester’s Go North West depot cut its energy use by 76% by installing LED lighting.
• Trial of recycling initiative at Brighton station with sustainability start up Green Block – aiming to increase recycling rates from 30% to 95%