Does CDP Reporting Still Hold Value in 2025?
Exploring CDP’s role in the current reporting landscape and how to prepare for the 2025 cycle
9th April 2025
As organisations navigate the increasing changes and uncertainties in the sustainability reporting landscape, especially in light of the EU’s recent Omnibus Proposal, the Climate Disclosure Project (CDP) still emerges as an influential platform for organisations to disclose environmental impact and demonstrate commitment to transparency. CDP remains a central player in the global push for corporate accountability on climate change, deforestation, water security, and now, plastics and biodiversity.
In this article, we explore CDP’s role in the current reporting landscape, what we learned from the 2024 submission and how to best prepare for the 2025 cycle.
CDP’s role in reporting
With increased regulatory pressures and changes, a rise of data standardisation, and a focus on Scope 3 emissions and supply chain transparency, CDP still has a significant role to play in the current reporting landscape and here is why:
- Consistent and credible ESG reporting: The ESG mandatory reporting bar is rising and changing, and CDP is a good, steady test case for preparing and maintaining your reporting muscle.
- Alignment with other reporting frameworks: CDP is aligning with mandatory reporting frameworks such as the European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS) and the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB), making it a valuable tool for gaining exposure to these standards.
- Keeping up to date: CDP continues to refine and expand its questionnaire, introducing new themes such as plastics and biodiversity in recent years and incorporating reporting on impacts and dependencies across topics, encouraging continual improvement in your disclosures.
- Globally aligned and widely adopted: CDP disclosers continue to grow in number, with 24,000+ responders in 2024, up 6.3% from 2023.
What we learned from the 2024 submission
In 2024, CDP launched a new portal and integrated questionnaire, unifying all topics – now referred to as themes – into a single format, which aims to streamline responses and minimise duplication.
Also, the 2024 questionnaire asked all companies to disclose their plastics risks and risk mitigation efforts, and Science-Based Targets were embedded within the questionnaire.
Summary of the significant changes
| A simplified questionnaire | CDP unified climate change, forests, and water security data into a single questionnaire to streamline the process. It’s more simple, avoids duplication, and provides a holistic view. |
| Improvements for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) | A new questionnaire was designed to address the needs and capacities of smaller businesses, making CDP disclosure more accessible. It aims to encourage greater participation from SMEs and support their sustainability journeys. |
| Biodiversity and ecosystems | Data on biodiversity and ecosystem services was strengthened in 2024. This recognises the synergy between climate change and biodiversity. The natural ecosystem impact will now be considered, as well as efforts to protect and restore biodiversity. |
| Increased focus on supply chain engagement | More detailed information is required on how businesses are working with their suppliers to address climate-related risks and reduce emissions. It aims to encourage collaboration and improve accountability. |
However, not all changes made by CDP in the last year have been well received. Along with a new questionnaire and portal came the decision to lock viewing entire responses behind a paywall, which some would argue was the most valuable part of CDP, even more so than the scores.
This year, we have also witnessed some frustrating scoring surprises and delayed detailed score reports. As CDP moves towards more quantitative scoring, there might be a few kinks to iron out in the scoring process, which some companies may have been subject to this year.
While we know CDP still holds a valuable spot on the list of reporting frameworks, with more responders than ever in 2024, companies need to be aware of these changes and do what they can to prepare early.
Implications for the 2025 CDP reporting cycle
As we look ahead to the 2025 cycle, set to begin soon, we’re prepared for a smoother season, building on the lessons learned from the significant changes introduced in 2024.
Some considerations you should prepare for and build into your CDP timeline are:
- Benchmarking against peers may be challenging, so it’s essential to draft responses carefully, closely following CDP’s reporting guidance and scoring methodology.
- Conduct a gap analysis early to identify areas for improvement and understand what’s needed to elevate your score.
- Pay attention to the new Essential Criteria. Introduced in 2024 as part of the scoring methodology, these are critical for advancing to higher scoring levels and ensuring your progress is accurately reflected.
- Stay alert to last-minute updates. CDP made changes to the scoring methodology just two weeks before the deadline last year – even after some participants had submitted – so always work from the latest version of CDP documentation.
- Start uploading responses to the CDP Portal early. This helps you understand question dependencies and leaves time for final checks to ensure you’re submitting your strongest response.
- Run a mock scoring assessment before submission to catch any last-minute scoring opportunities. Also, take note of programmatic gaps that can be addressed post-submission to strengthen your overall ESG strategy.
How Anthesis can support
For over a decade, Anthesis has supported both new-to-CDP and A List organisations through the reporting process. With deep expertise across climate, water, forests, biodiversity, and plastics, combined with extensive CDP disclosure experience, we provide strategic guidance to help clients navigate their responses and stay ahead of evolving CDP requirements and their implications.
If you would like help to understand your score from last year or require support with your submission this year, please contact us below.
We are the world’s leading purpose driven, digitally enabled, science-based activator. And always welcome inquiries and partnerships to drive positive change together.
