CDP: From Nice to Have to Non-negotiable

Only 10-15 years ago CDP was positioned to corporates as a progressive “nice to have”: a structured exercise in improving carbon disclosure and enhancing sustainability credentials. Participation was often driven by emerging investor questions, rather than hard market expectations. Then came the ESG-surge. Capital flowed into ESG funds, sustainability teams expanded, and disclosure became a competitive differentiator. Fast forward to 2026, the headlines are mixed. The ESG cycle has cooled, but the underlying accountability requirements have not.  

CDP remains at the centre of supply chain requirements, regulatory alignment, and ESG ratings methodologies. For companies operating in regulated markets or facing scrutiny from institutional investors, CDP is part of strategic infrastructure.  

Is CDP Still Worth It in 2026?

One of the clearest signals of CDP’s relevance lies in ratings methodologies.  

MSCI’s incoming Ratings 5.0 model assesses climate targets on coverage, progress, and verification. These are precisely the dimensions required to achieve top CDP scores. MSCI’s February simulations indicated that approximately 37% of issuers were projected to see a rating change under the new model. That statistic alone underscores how quickly expectations are shifting. 

Unlike CDP or Ecovadis, MSCI does not rely on issuer submission; it assesses public disclosure. Companies that lack structured and robust climate disclosure risk weaker external assessments, regardless of internal progress. Strong CDP performance therefore does more than generate a score by strengthening the underlying architecture that ratings agencies evaluate.

What is Changing?

CDP continues to raise expectations. The direction of travel is clear: disclosure is moving beyond emissions data to governance, transition credibility, resilience and nature impact.

• Forests scoring has been expanded across cocoa, coffee, and rubber.

• Climate Change providing companies the option to disclose how they are addressing climate adaptation and resilience. 

• Water Security has increased alignment with SBTN and GRI. 

From ESG Narrative to Performance Discipline

The companies that treated CDP as infrastructure are doubling down. CDP is resource intensive, but approached strategically, it becomes a management tool rather than a reporting burden. 

Following strong client results in CDP 2025, we are looking forward to preparing companies for the 2026 disclosure cycle, with a focus not only on score, but on structural readiness across ratings and regulation.