CDP Reporting Readiness Checklist

Understanding CDP Climate Disclosure

The Carbon Disclosure Project operates the world’s most comprehensive corporate environmental disclosure system. Companies report annually on climate change, water security, and forests through standardized questionnaires.

Over 23,000 companies disclose through CDP, responding to requests from investors, customers, and supply chain partners. Scores are published publicly, influencing ESG ratings, procurement decisions, and investor allocations.

CDP Climate Change Questionnaire Structure

The questionnaire comprises modules:

C0-C2: Introduction and Governance

• Organizational details and reporting boundaries
• Board oversight and management responsibility
• Employee incentives linked to climate

C3-C6: Risks, Opportunities, and Strategy

• Climate risk and opportunity identification
• Financial impact quantification
• Business strategy and financial planning integration
• Scenario analysis and resilience

C7-C10: Emissions and Targets

• Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions with methodologies
• Verification status and historical data
• Emissions reduction targets and performance
• Science Based Targets and net zero commitments

C11-C12: Energy and Additional Metrics

• Energy consumption and renewable procurement
• Activity-level data and intensity metrics

C13-C16: Value Chain and Advocacy

• Supplier and customer engagement
• Product-level emissions and low-carbon products
• Policy engagement and industry collaboration

C17: Signoff

• Verification and authorization

Using This Checklist

For each disclosure area, assess:

Data Availability: Do we have required data (emissions, targets, financial impacts)?

Data Quality: Are measurements robust with documented methodologies and assumptions?

Completeness: Have we addressed all relevant categories (e.g., all Scope 3 categories)?

Documentation: Can we evidence claims with source documents and calculation trails?

Governance: Are appropriate executives informed and approving disclosures?

Identify gaps requiring data collection, methodology development, or governance formalization before submission.

Common CDP Gaps and Solutions

Gap: Incomplete Scope 3 measurement Solution: Prioritize material categories (often purchased goods, business travel, employee commuting). Use estimates initially, improve with supplier data over time.

Gap: No board-level climate oversight Solution: Brief board on climate risks and CDP disclosure. Assign oversight to audit, risk, or sustainability committee.

Gap: Unverified emissions Solution: Engage assurance provider for limited or reasonable assurance on Scope 1 and 2 at minimum. Verification significantly improves scores.

Gap: No climate scenarios or resilience analysis Solution: Conduct qualitative scenario assessment using IPCC pathways. Identify business impacts under 1.5°C, 2°C, and 3°C+ scenarios.

Gap: Missing emissions reduction targets Solution: Establish absolute or intensity targets covering Scope 1 and 2 minimum. Consider Science Based Targets for credibility.

Gap: Limited value chain engagement Solution: Survey suppliers on their emissions and climate actions. Share emissions data with customers requesting Scope 3 information.

Improving CDP Scores

CDP uses a levelled approach:

Disclosure (D, D-): Organization provides transparent disclosure of environmental data.

Awareness (C, C-): Organization demonstrates awareness of climate issues and impacts.

Management (B, B-): Organization implements programs and initiatives addressing climate change.

Leadership (A, A-): Organization achieves best practice climate action and disclosure.

To progress levels:

• D → C: Expand disclosure completeness, add climate risk and opportunity identification
• C → B: Implement emissions reduction targets, establish management systems and action plans
• B → A: Achieve ambitious targets, demonstrate value chain engagement, obtain verification, participate in scenario analysis, align with Science Based Targets

Preparing for First CDP Submission

Timeline: Start 3-4 months before deadline (typically late July)

Month 1: Complete emissions inventory for all three scopes, identify data gaps

Month 2: Conduct governance review, formalize board oversight, establish climate risk processes

Month 3: Set emissions targets, document methodologies, prepare disclosure narratives

Month 4: Complete questionnaire, internal review, executive signoff, submission

After Submission: Review score and feedback, plan improvements for next year

Next Steps After Assessment

1. Score Gaps: Identify which disclosure areas need development to reach target score level

2. Resource Planning: Allocate budget and personnel for data collection, analysis, and submission

3. Governance: Formalize board and management climate oversight if not established

4. Emissions Measurement: Complete comprehensive inventory if gaps exist

5. Target Setting: Establish science-based targets if absent

6. Engagement: Begin supplier and customer climate engagement programs

7. Documentation: Create evidence files supporting all disclosure claims

8. Verification: Engage third-party assurance if emissions unverified