Mastering CDP in 2025: Top strategies for successful climate disclosure from our CDP consultants

In 2025, CDP disclosure isn’t just another compliance exercise, it’s a strategic opportunity to drive transformation within your organisation. With over 21,000 companies reporting to CDP in 2024 (a 24% increase from 2023), the importance of robust sustainability reporting has never been greater.

For companies aiming to improve their CDP scores and align with global frameworks, our CDP consultancy UK team offers tailored support that delivers impressive results. Our expert CDP consultants provide comprehensive guidance that not only simplifies the disclosure process but also transforms your reporting performance.

Firstly, what is the structure of the CDP questionnaires?

Historically, CDP has offered 3 primary questionnaires:

Climate change: This is the most widely selected questionnaire, focusing on Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions, energy use, and climate-related risks and opportunities.

Forests: This questionnaire addresses deforestation and forest degradation, particularly concerning commodities like timber, palm oil, cattle products, and soy.

Water security: This section evaluates water-related risks, usage, and management strategies.

Additionally, CDP has introduced questions on plastics and biodiversity. These sections remain unscored as of 2025, and this approach is intentional to boost response rates and encourage organisations to integrate these critical issues into their environmental strategy. For the 2025 cycle, you’ll benefit from further improved guidance, which should help build a solid foundation for incorporating these areas into your overall reporting and prepare you for when they eventually move to a scoring category.

Will the CDP scoring methodology change in 2025?

CDP has announced that the 2025 disclosure cycle will focus on stability. The questionnaire and platform will undergo minimal changes, allowing companies to build on their 2024 efforts without adapting to new systems.

The scoring methodology is revised each year to align with industry best practice, with the 2025 methodology expected w/c 28th April.

The rest of the reporting timeline remains consistent, with the portal opening for disclosures in June 2025, and the scoring deadline set for September 2025.

How the CDP scores work

Upon completing the questionnaire, companies receive scores ranging from A to D, reflecting their environmental performance and transparency. An ‘F’ indicates a failure to provide sufficient information for evaluation and is not a reflection of environmental stewardship.

The scoring methodology emphasises the quality and completeness of disclosures, encouraging organisations to set targets and develop tangible climate transition plans.

In addition to the question-level scores (where points are awarded for ‘Disclosure,’ ‘Awareness,’ ‘Management,’ and ‘Leadership’), CDP has introduced an ‘Essential Criteria’ scoring system starting in 2024. Now, you must meet the minimum requirements for each level before progressing to the overall scoring. Previously, this requirement applied only to achieving an A List status, it’s now extended to all scoring levels, ensuring a consistent standard of excellence at every stage of your CDP disclosure journey.

The merits of aligning with other global frameworks

CDP has begun aligning with other popular disclosure schemes, to help reduce the reporting burden as much as they can, including:

Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD): CDP’s questionnaires are fully aligned with TCFD recommendations, highlighting the importance of disclosing climate-related risks and opportunities.

Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD): CDP is progressively aligning with TNFD, reflecting a broader focus on nature-related risks beyond climate change alone.

International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS): Building on the TCFD framework, the IFRS is developing comprehensive disclosure standards that drive effective climate risk management, and CDP is committed to aligning its questionnaires with them.

European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS): CDP and the European Financial Reporting Advisory Group (EFRAG) are collaborating to map and align CDP’s questionnaires with ESRS, particularly the climate change standard (ESRS E1). This effort aims to reduce the reporting burden for companies and ensure consistency across disclosures.

How to prepare for CDP reporting in 2025

To perform well in 2025, consider these expert recommendations:

Early preparation: Begin data collection and draft responses well ahead of the summer 2025 disclosure window.
Stakeholder Engagement: Collaborate with internal departments – from finance or procurement to office management and sustainability – to gather comprehensive data.
Data verification: Ensure that all environmental data, particularly greenhouse gas emissions, undergoes third-party verification. Verified data improves credibility and can positively impact scoring.
Global framework alignment: Align reporting practices with global frameworks such as TCFD, TNFD, IFRS, and ESRS. This demonstrates a commitment to standardised and comprehensive sustainability reporting.
Continuous improvement: Leverage insights from previous CDP scores to refine your processes and drive better performance in subsequent cycles.

Transform your CDP Score with tailored consultancy support

At Energise, our CDP consultancy team provides tailored support that transforms your sustainability reporting. Our meticulous approach has helped numerous organisations achieve impressive improvements in their CDP reporting.

For an applied example, check out our latest case study on transforming CDP scores.

Book a free discovery call today to see how our expert CDP support can help you excel in the 2025 disclosure cycle. Or, click below to download the full, updated guide to CDP.