Originally published in March 2023
For more than 20 years, CDP has driven systemic change in the global economy towards a net-zero, nature-positive world. This could only be achieved thanks to the generous funding support from a range of donors – including governments, public institutions, philanthropic organizations and private partners.
CDP has made environmental transparency a business norm
The CDP environmental data bears this out - that many companies, cities and municipalities are striving to achieve greater sustainability, and that they have been successful. This environmental data both documents and fosters progress. For transparency encourages us to aim higher when it comes to protecting the climate and the environment.
Angela Merkel
Speaking at the CDP Europe Awards 2021
Speaking at the CDP Europe Awards 2021
But we need faster action - European companies are far off track for achieving the 1.5°C goal
Thanks to CDP, 2021 saw an 85% increase in European companies with science-based targets for cutting emissions. From 0% in 2015, to 51% of European market capitalization today: CDP's work is bending the emissions curve.
This fast progress in Europe has “cooled” the temperature of the European economy 0.3°C since 2021. Nonetheless, European companies are still only on track for 2.4°C.
The world is off track to achieve 1.5°C, thereby increasing the likelihood of catastrophic, irreversible damage to the living world.
The Paris Agreement set the political framework to mitigate the worst effects of climate change. EU and EFTA countries set NDCs that are in line with 1.5°C and committed to including non-Party stakeholders in the process.
The IPCC sounded the alarm over the failure to act on climate change and limit the average global temperature rise to 1.5°C.
CDP supports the implementation of governments’ national climate targets by driving action towards the Paris Agreement’s 1.5°C target among non-Party stakeholders, including companies, sub-national jurisdictions and capital markets.
CDP is the core data partner to the UNFCCC Global Climate Action Portal under an MoU with the UNFCCC secretariat, a member of the Marrakech Partnership for Global Climate Action, and a partner in the Race to Zero and Race to Resilience.
CDP data is used to track non-Party stakeholder progress against the goals of the Paris Agreement by policymakers, businesses, financial stakeholders, academia and others.
Implementation mechanism: We engage non-Party stakeholders in your jurisdiction to set science-based emissions reduction targets (SBTs) and implement transition plans in line with 1.5°C. We achieve this through CDP’s annual disclosure cycle, backed by government endorsements and investor campaigns such as the SBT campaign.
Progress tracking of the quantity & quality of disclosure: We track non-Party stakeholders’ progress in implementing their SBTs and increasing the quantity and quality of the climate change mitigation and adaptation data disclosed.
Data & insights for governments: We provide data and insights by identifying barriers, risks, opportunities and public financing needs of non-Party stakeholders. This supports the implementation of the Paris Agreement, by accelerating implementation of climate SBTs, and recognizing non-Party stakeholders' contributions to the Global Stocktake as part of the Marrakesh agenda.
The world is off track to stop and reverse the loss of biodiversity and ecosystems, thereby increasing the likelihood of catastrophic, irreversible damage to the living world.
The IPBES and the European Environment Agency sounded the alarm over the failure to halt nature loss and achieve a net gain by 2030 and a full nature recovery by 2050.
The post-2020 framework of the Convention on Biological Diversity must be the "Paris Agreement" for nature. EU and EFTA countries should involve non-Party stakeholders in their nature restoration plans.
CDP supports the implementation of governments’ national nature restoration targets by driving action towards a net gain and full recovery of nature among non-Party stakeholders, including companies, sub-national jurisdictions and capital markets.
CDP is the core data partner to the UNFCCC Global Climate Action Portal and is able to provide nature target data to the CBD in the future.
CDP provides subject matter expertise to the TNFD and SBTn in order to develop science-based targets for nature (fresh water, oceans, biodiversity, etc.)
Implementation mechanism: We engage non-Party stakeholders in your jurisdiction to implement nature-related actions such as nature-based solutions or freshwater consumption reduction measures. We are preparing to engage them to set nature science-based targets (SBTs) and implement transition plans in line with a full recovery of nature through CDP’s annual disclosure cycle backed by government endorsements.
Progress tracking of the quantity & quality of disclosure: We track non-Party stakeholders’ progress on key nature-related actions such as on zero-deforestation commitments and sustainable commodity sourcing in global supply chains, increasing the quantity and quality of data disclosed on nature (forests, freshwater, biodiversity). We prepare for tracking non-Party stakeholders’ progress on the implementation of nature SBTs and increase the quantity and quality of data disclosed on nature.
Data & insights for governments: We provide data and insights on potential barriers, risks, opportunities and public financing needs of non-Party stakeholders to accelerate the implementation of their nature commitments on zero-deforestation, also recognizing non-Party stakeholders' contributions to the CBD.
How governments partner with CDP
CDP is a unique mechanism for governments to accelerate and track progress on climate and nature targets. Work with us to move our economy to within the 1.5°C limit and achieve a full recovery of nature.
France, Italy and The Netherlands currently endorse CDP.
Companies disclosing to CDP in Italy
Since 2018, CDP and the Italian governmnet have worked together to drive corporate and local government transparency. Disclosure to CDP has increased over 140% during this time, while the Italian corporate sector is now among most ambitious in Europe - aligned with 2.2°C of warming.
Bespoke projects: tailored to national climate and nature goals
All governments operate in a unique local context in terms of government system, economic structure and corporate culture. CDP offers bespoke projects co-designed with governments to produce insights and tools to support them in achieving national goals.
Example project outputs
