IBCSD Company Workshop on CDP, Understanding the Carbon Disclosure Report

Mechanism

CDP works with 3000 of the largest corporations in the world to help them ensure that an effective carbon emissions / reductions strategy is made integral to their business. The collection of self-reported data from thousands of companies is supported by 822 institutional investors with US$95 trillion under management.CDP operates from Berlin, New York, London and has partners in 18 of the world’s major economies which help deliver the programme globally. It has:

Established the world’s largest repository of GHG emissions and energy use data accounting for some 26% of global anthropogenic CO₂
Started to establish a globally used standard for emissions and energy reporting
Examined the 250 major electric utilities globally (high GHG emitters)
Obtained backing from blue chip investors including HSBC, JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America, Merrill Lynch, Goldman Sachs, American International Group, and State Street Corp.
Active staff or partner organisations in the United States, China, Japan, Germany, United Kingdom, France, Canada, India, Brazil, Nordic region, South Africa, Netherlands, Australia, and New Zealand, among others
Works with corporations including WalMart, Tesco, Cadbury Schweppes, Procter and Gamble, and many others to measure emissions through the supply chain.

Much of the data elicited has never been collected before. This information is helpful to investors, corporations, and regulators in making informed decisions which take into account corporate risk from future government legislation, possible future lawsuits, and shifts in consumers’ perceptions towards heavy emitters. RepRisk’s data will add to the current evaluation process by validating company-provided information and clarifying how a company’s policies, commitments and initiatives translate into performance. An estimated $27 trillion will be spent over the next 30 years on new energy-related capital developments (power stations, fuel distillation plants, etc.). In line with ecological modernisation school of thought, CDP considers it vital that the right or optimally-suitable technologies are adopted. In particular:

Giving higher priority to energy efficient design in new capital projects
Declaring firm targets for capping and reducing corporate emissions
Identifying new low carbon business opportunities
Pricing in how, under different scenarios, the price of carbon emissions will shift the economics of alternative energy sources.

The process of companies having to respond to CDP delivers real changes in business practice resulting in lower energy use. In many cases this leads to a higher proportion of energy from renewable sources.

CDP has 501(c)3 charitable status through Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors in New York City and is a registered charity in the United Kingdom.

CDP Europe is a registered charity at the local court of Charlottenburg, Germany.