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The Carbon Disclosure Project’s (CDP) Global 500 report, which provides the most comprehensive assessment of global data on corporate greenhouse gas emissions and climate change strategies, has ranked the Go-Ahead Group (Go-Ahead) top of the FTSE 350 for public transport companies in its 2009 survey.

The leading public transport provider scored 72% in the survey, which seeks to rank firms according to the level and quality of their disclosure and reporting on greenhouse gas emissions and climate change strategy data. CDP’s rating of Go-Ahead’s environmental reporting reflects the significant efforts it has undertaken to reduce its carbon emissions.

By seeking to survey every major Corporation, the CDP produces a unique snapshot of the corporate carbon culture. The CDP comments that the survey findings “will help investors gain exposure to companies that actively manage their impact on the environment.”

Keith Ludeman, Go-Ahead’s Group Chief Executive said “Climate change is the most pressing issue facing our generation. I am delighted that Go-Ahead’s commitment to actively managing its impact on the environment has been recognised in this highly respected survey.

Whilst monitoring our impact is important, it is only a small part of the broader picture. In the UK, transport now accounts for 25% of GHG, with cars accounting for more than half of this. In contrast, buses and trains contribute only 5%. We can play a key role reducing carbon emissions as public transport operators by shifting passengers from private cars to public transport. We cannot afford to be complacent”

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Notes to editors:

Go-Ahead Group plc

Go-Ahead is one of the UK's leading providers of passenger transport services operating in the bus, rail and aviation services sectors. Employing around 27,000 people across the country, around 960 million passenger journeys are undertaken on our services each year.

Carbon Disclosure Project

The Carbon Disclosure Project, founded in 2000, represents some 475 global institutional investors, with more than US $55 trillion in assets under management. As an independent not-for-profit organisation, CDP collects key climate change data from some 2,500 companies around the globe and has assembled the largest corporate greenhouse gas emissions database in the world. CDP also works with multinational organisations to facilitate the collection of climate change relevant data for their supply chain.

The CDP is widely recognised as holding the most comprehensive collection of global data on corporate greenhouse gas emissions and climate change strategies. Thousands of organisations measure and disclose their data through CDP. The CDP then uses this information to positively influence financial and policy decision-making.

Business in the Community – Corporate Responsibility Index

For the fifth year in a row Go-Ahead has been listed in the Top 100 Companies for Corporate Responsibility by Business in the Community (BITC) in its Corporate Responsibility Index – the UK's leading voluntary benchmark of corporate responsibility. Go-Ahead has also retained its Gold Rating, which it has achieved every year since the Gold Band was introduced 3 years ago. This is the highest rating among comparable participating public transport operators in the UK.

Carbon Trust Standard Certification

Go-Ahead is the first public transport company to have been officially certified with the Carbon Trust Standard after taking action on climate change and achieving a relative reduction of carbon emissions.

Carbon Trust's Standard is the UK's only independent certification recognising achievements in action on climate change by leading organisations in industry, commerce and the public sector. It is also the world's only initiative that requires an organisation to take internal action to reducing their own carbon footprint and make commitments to reducing it year on year.