Environmental organizations are in a unique position to support a more diverse ecosystem of actors. By including a greater range of perspectives, approaches and ideas, a diverse approach to environmental action is crucial to build a truly sustainable economy.
Two years ago, the CDP Partnerships Team launched its Diversity and Equity Initiative. It was clear then, and remains so now, that the impacts of climate change, biodiversity loss and ecosystem collapse cannot be considered as separate to those of economic inequality and social injustice.
Climate change worsens the environmental conditions that give rise to chronic illness and injury, and causes social and economic dislocations that hit disadvantaged communities hardest. Black individuals in the United States are 40% more likely to live in areas with the highest projected increases in extreme temperature-related deaths, and individuals living in low and lower-middle-income countries are around five times more likely than those in high-income countries to be displaced by extreme weather events.
The environmental challenges CDP works on are human challenges, and it is only with the participation of a diverse range of actors that we will achieve our goals.
In line with this stark reality, the Partnerships Team is continuing to take steps to make the accredited solutions provider (ASP) program more accessible to minority and women-owned enterprises (MWOEs). These include offering a sliding-scale partnership fee, lowering the barriers to entry and improving equity to those who have historically experienced diminished access to capital.
Through the initiative, we have been glad to see the number of MWOE ASPs grow year on year, with 80% of those surveyed saying that reduced partnership fees were either very helpful or essential to them joining the ASP programme. Going forward, we are renewing our commitment to embedding equity into the ASP programme. We would like to call again on MWOE service providers to contact the Partnerships Team and join the ASP programme, as we play our part in the pursuit of a just transition.
On the initiative’s second anniversary, we would like to showcase some of the excellent MWOE ASPs we are currently working with, and see how the ASP programme has benefited their business and mission:
3R, a silver climate change consultancy solutions provider in the US, said:
‘3R Sustainability is proud to be part of the Accredited Solutions Provider program because it allows us to go one step further in helping our clients with their sustainability goals. It increases our training resources and knowledge base, allowing us to better support each client’s unique needs through every step of the CDP process. Being recognized as an ASP is a differentiator for us, especially as a growing, women-owned company.’
KERAMIDA, a global gold education and training solutions provider, said:
‘CDP and KERAMIDA are partners supporting corporate and cities’ environmental leadership and disclosure to CDP. The partnership supports our expert insight, improving our ability to help organizations take actionable steps to improve their CDP performance.’
Position Green Group, a silver climate change consultancy solutions provider in the Nordics, said:
'Our partnership with CDP through the Accredited Solutions Provider programme helps demonstrate the quality of our consultancy services. The training and updates that our consultants receive on CDP's questionnaire and methodology leaves us better equipped to give high level assistance to companies reporting to CDP.'
Semtrio, a silver software, climate change, and water solutions provider in Turkey, said:
'Semtrio has successfully led 23 CDP projects just this year, during which the valuable resources and technical support provided by CDP proved instrumental. As an accredited solution provider in software, climate change and water use consultancy, we are able to provide the experience, reliability and perspective our select clientele require thanks to our mutually beneficial partnership with CDP.'
Vitalmetrics, a silver climate change consultancy in the US, said:
‘As the business community scrambles for resources to meet the climate challenges we all face, CDP plays a critical role in ensuring transparency and ethical responsibility. Being a CDP Accredited Solutions Provider tells our customers that VitalMetrics provides high quality data and solutions to anyone that is serious about measuring their carbon footprint. Our partnership with CDP pushes us to strive for excellence, maintaining the highest professional standards in everything we do.’
The following MWOE solutions providers are also partnered with CDP through the ASP programme:
Bidconnect USA, a global gold carbon reduction solutions provider.
Energise, a silver climate change consultancy partner in the UK.
Figbytes, a silver software solutions provider in Canada.
G17 Eco, a global gold software solutions provider.
Go2 Markets, a silver renewable energy solutions provider in Germany and the US.
ISOS Group, a silver education and training solutions provider in the US.
Planetly by OneTrust, a global gold software solutions provider.
PulsESG, a global gold software solutions provider.
Sweep, a global gold software solutions provider.
If you are a MWOE with an environmental product or service which could benefit CDP’s network of over 18,700 companies, or would like to share your thoughts on our initiative, we would love to hear from you. Please get in touch with us at [email protected].