On 22nd January 2019, the 2018 CDP Scores have been released. Thus, the results are now available for all CDP participants that reported in 2018 their environment-related data like strategy, risks and opportunities, governance mechanisms, scenario analysis, supply chain engagement, etc. in the areas Climate Change, Water Security and Forests/Deforestation. This blog post will give a short overview regarding the CDP disclosing history and the released CDP Scores. In this context, we will focus on German companies and highlight the 2019 timeline afterwards.
Continuous increase of disclosing environmental data through CDP
Since 2003, the number of disclosing companies has increased continuously (see fig. 1), from 220 companies in 2003 up to 7,018 companies in 2018. Regarding 2018 disclosing companies:
- The total number of disclosing companies increased by 11% in 2018 compared to 2017
- The number of Climate Change disclosing companies increased by approx. 11% as well
- The number of Water disclosing companies increased by approx. 6% in 2018 compared to 2017
- The number of Forests disclosing companies nearly doubled: from 264 to 455 companies
These numbers are showing the growing importance of disclosing environment-related data as well as the growing pressure from relevant stakeholders to report this important information for their own business decisions and risk assessments.
Fig. 1: No. of CDP disclosing companies since 2003 (source: https://www.cdp.net/en/scores)
CDP Scores in detail: 126 A-list companies
This year’s A-List consists of 126 companies in the Climate Change, 27 companies in the Water Security and 7 companies in the Forests field (see: CDP, 2019). Furthermore, there are 17 companies that have made this year’s both Climate Change and Water A-List (i. a., Bayer AG from Germany) and there are even two companies which lead the way with A’s across all three environmental areas: FIRMENICH SA (Switzerland) and L’Oréal (France).
Considering the CDP Scores only in a German context:
- Five German companies achieved this year’s A-List in the Climate Change field (only Bayer AG has become an ‘A-Leader’ in both Climate Change and Water, see above)
- Besides that, Bayer AG is also the only company from Germany with an A in the Water area
- Beiersdorf AG is the only German company that is part of the Forests A-List within the ‘Forests Palm oil’[1] sector
CDP’s timeline for 2019: mark the dates!
The 2018 CDP Scores releasing was the first milestone in CDP’s timeline for 2019. The final version of the reporting guidance and scoring methodology will be available in March 2019. The ORS (Online Response System) will open in April 2019. This year’s deadline for providing environmental data through the ORS and for submitting the responses to investors and/or customers ends on 31st July. In November 2019, the CDP Scores and public responses will be released (see: CDP, 2019).
Last year, CDP Reimagining Disclosures project lead to a restructuring of the questionnaire as well as the inclusion of key topics such as risk management, alignment with the TCFD, scenario analysis or supply chain engagement. In this exceptional context, the deadline which traditionally was end of June for the investor requests and end of July for the Supply chain ones was moved to 15th and 31st of August respectively. However, given that no major restructuring is scheduled for this year, the timeline is likely to remain the same.
DFGE’s support in 2019
DFGE is official Silver Climate Chance Consultancy Partner of the DACH-region since 2014 and has supported more than 30 companies at the answering of the CDP-questionnaire for Climate Change and Water – starting with first-time participating middle-class companies up to participants of the CDP A-list of DAX and Global 500.
Our 2018 customers have all reached their targets and, in most cases, increased their scores, despite the major changes in the methodology. In 2019, we will support you as well with high professionality according to our offered product packages in CDP Climate Change, CDP Water and CDP Forests. Furthermore, on 13th and 27th February 2019 we will offer free webinars related to the most important CDP questionnaire 2019 aspects for this year’s participants. You will find further information and the registration opportunity here. In cases of any questions don’t hesitate to contact us via or via phone: +49.8192.99733-20.
[1] CDP collects data in the Forests field through the lens of the four agricultural commodities responsible for most deforestation: timber, palm oil, cattle and soil (see: https://www.cdp.net/en/forests)
