In a world where sustainability is not just a buzzword but a critical imperative, organizations face mounting pressure to transparently disclose their environmental impacts and efforts to mitigate climate change. CDP has long been at the forefront of this movement, providing a platform for companies to measure, manage, and disclose their environmental data. Now, in 2024, CDP is introducing a groundbreaking update to its Climate Change questionnaire, aimed at reducing complexity and fostering holistic environmental management.
To register for or get access to our 2024 webinar on May 8, 10:00 – 10:30 on the questionnaire release, follow this link.
Simplifying Complexity
One of the key challenges in environmental reporting has been the complexity of data collection and submission processes. Recognizing this, CDP has undertaken a significant overhaul to streamline the questionnaire, making it more intuitive and user-friendly. Instead of navigating through multiple interfaces for different themes, organizations can now access all requested themes in one unified questionnaire, arguably simplifying the reporting process.
Holistic Environmental Management
CDP’s new questionnaire marks a shift towards holistic environmental management. By presenting questions for all requested themes in a single interface, organizations are encouraged to consider their environmental impacts comprehensively rather than in isolation. This approach aligns with the growing recognition that environmental issues are interconnected, and addressing them requires a coordinated, integrated strategy.
One Submission, Multiple Benefits
Gone are the days of submitting separate reports for different environmental themes. With CDP’s updated questionnaire, organizations need only make one submission to cover all requested themes. This not only reduces the administrative burden on companies but also ensures consistency and coherence in reporting.
Separate Scores
While the reporting process has been simplified, the questionnaire still generates three separate scores for climate change, forests, and water security, allowing stakeholders to understand and compare companies‘ efforts in each area. This transparency enables investors, customers, and other stakeholders to make informed decisions based on companies‘ environmental commitments and performance.
Supply Chain Integration
Recognizing the significant environmental impact of supply chains, CDP has now incorporated supply chain questions throughout the questionnaire instead of presenting them in a stand-alone chapter. This ensures that organizations not only assess their own environmental footprint but also consider the upstream and downstream impacts of their operations. By integrating supply chain questions seamlessly into the reporting process, CDP empowers companies to identify and address environmental risks and opportunities across their value chains.
You can access CDP’s new questionnaires and guidance documents here.
CDP Support
As Silver Climate Change Consultancy Partner, DFGE has offered comprehensive long-term support and advice for CDP participation for more than ten years. Our different CDP packages are designed to provide individual support based on your needs for a single theme to holistic coverage of the entire integrated questionnaire.
If you are interested or have any related questions, please feel free to contact us via email at or by phone at +49 819 29973320
Sources:
Webinare & Trainings – DFGE – Institute for Energy, Ecology and Economy
Guidance & questionnaires – CDP
CDP Climate Change – CDP participation for businesses – DFGE
