CN recognized by Carbon Disclosure Project for climate change disclosure, named to Dow Jones Sustainability World Index

MONTREAL, Oct. 17, 2012 /PRNewswire/ - CN (TSX: CNR) (NYSE: CNI) has been commended by the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) for its approach to the disclosure of climate change information. The CDP represents 655 institutional investors with US$78 trillion in assets under management.

For the fourth consecutive year, CN is featured in CDP's "Carbon Disclosure Leadership Index." This index, a key component of CDP's annual Canada 200 report, highlights the constituent companies within the Canada 200 Index that have displayed the most professional approach to corporate governance regarding climate change information disclosure practices. Companies are scored on their climate change disclosure, measuring the quality of internal data management and the understanding of issues related to climate change issues that affect the company. Click here to view the CDP report.

The index, compiled by Accenture on behalf of CDP, provides an evaluation tool for institutional investors and other stakeholders. In 2012 it comprises the leading 10 per cent of companies (20) from the Canada 200 Index based on analysis of the responses to CDP's questionnaire which focused on greenhouse gas emissions, emissions reduction targets, and risks and opportunities associated with climate change.

Claude Mongeau, president and chief executive officer of CN, said: "We have made significant strides in our sustainability agenda, which is focused on lowering emissions, increasing energy efficiency, reducing waste, and encouraging environmental stewardship among our employees and in the communities we serve. CN leads the North American rail industry in fuel efficiency, but is also working hard to advance its sustainability agenda across all facets of the enterprise to decrease our environmental impact."

Paul Simpson, chief executive officer of CDP, said: "Companies that make the Carbon Disclosure Leadership Index have demonstrated strong internal data management practices for the measurement of greenhouse gas emissions and energy use. They are also giving clear consideration to the business issues related to climate change and their exposure to climate-related risks and opportunities. This is vital to realizing greater efficiencies, protecting the business from risk, and capitalizing on opportunities."

CN also said today that its sustainability practices have earned it a place on the Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI) North America for fourth straight year, and, for the first time, on the DJSI World Index. The DJSI follows a best-in-class approach, surveying sustainability leaders from each industry on a global level. The annual review of the DJSI family is based on a thorough analysis of economic, environmental and social performance, assessing issues such as corporate governance, risk management, branding, climate change mitigation, supply chain standards and labour practices. Click here to link with the DJSI website.

"We are very pleased with the Carbon Disclosure Project's recognition of CN's leadership in disclosing climate change information, as well as recognition from the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index," said Mongeau.

About CDP
The Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) is an international, not-for-profit organization holding the only global system for companies and cities to measure, disclose, manage and share vital environmental information. CDP harnesses the power of market forces, including 655 institutional investors with assets of US$78 trillion, to collect information from companies on their greenhouse gas emissions and assessment of climate change and water risk and opportunity. CDP now holds the largest collection globally of primary climate change and water data and puts these insights at the heart of strategic business, investment and policy decisions. For more information, visit www.cdproject.net.

About DJSI
Launched in 1999, the Dow Jones Sustainability Indexes are the first global indexes tracking the financial performance of the leading, sustainability-driven companies.

About CN
CN - Canadian National Railway Company and its operating railway subsidiaries - spans Canada and mid-America, from the Atlantic and Pacific oceans to the Gulf of Mexico, serving the ports of Vancouver, Prince Rupert, B.C., Montreal, Halifax, New Orleans, and Mobile, Ala., and the key metropolitan areas of Toronto, Buffalo, Chicago, Detroit, Duluth, Minn./Superior, Wis., Green Bay, Wis., Minneapolis/St. Paul, Memphis, and Jackson, Miss., with connections to all points in North America. For more information on CN, visit the company's website at www.cn.ca.

Forward-Looking Statements
Certain information included in this news release constitutes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and under Canadian securities laws. CN cautions that, by their nature, these forward-looking statements involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions.  The Company cautions that its assumptions may not materialize and that current economic conditions render such assumptions, although reasonable at the time they were made, subject to greater uncertainty. Such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results or performance of the Company or the rail industry to be materially different from the outlook or any future results or performance implied by such statements. Important factors that could affect the above forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, the effects of general economic and business conditions, industry competition, inflation, currency and interest rate fluctuations, changes in fuel prices, legislative and/or regulatory developments, compliance with environmental laws and regulations, actions by regulators, various events which could disrupt operations, including natural events such as severe weather, droughts, floods and earthquakes, labor negotiations and disruptions, environmental claims, uncertainties of investigations, proceedings or other types of claims and litigation, risks and liabilities arising from derailments, and other risks and assumptions detailed from time to time in reports filed by CN with securities regulators in Canada and the United States. Reference should be made to "Management's Discussion and Analysis" in CN's annual and interim reports, Annual Information Form and Form 40-F filed with Canadian and U.S. securities regulators, available on CN's website, for a summary of major risks.

CN assumes no obligation to update or revise forward-looking statements to reflect future events, changes in circumstances, or changes in beliefs, unless required by applicable Canadian securities laws. In the event CN does update any forward-looking statement, no inference should be made that CN will make additional updates with respect to that statement, related maters, or any other forward-looking statement

SOURCE CN