CDP 2024: Challenges we have overcome together and what awaits us in 2025.
In 2024, the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) took another step in the evolution of corporate environmental reporting. New areas, such as biodiversity and plastics, were added to the assessment, while the processes for reporting on climate change, forests, and water were streamlined. What were the key developments this year, and what can we expect in 2025? This article will explore the main changes and challenges companies will face in the next CDP assessment and how they can prepare for them.
As climate change continues to be a major global issue, companies are under increasing pressure to contribute actively to environmental protection. One of the most significant tools for assessing corporate environmental impact is the CDP platform. CDP is a nonprofit organization that has been helping companies, cities, and governments transparently report their environmental impacts for over 20 years while also providing tools to improve sustainability. Every year, thousands of organizations worldwide respond to CDP questionnaires, focusing on areas such as climate change mitigation, biodiversity protection, and sustainable management of water resources and forests.
Key Changes in 2024: Simplification and New Areas of Assessment
The year 2024 was a year of transformation for everyone involved in environmental impact assessment. CDP introduced several major innovations that affected how companies report their environmental performance.
New Mandatory Areas: Biodiversity and Plastics
One of the most significant changes was the introduction of two new mandatory areas—biodiversity and plastics. While these topics were included in the questionnaire, they were not yet scored in 2024. This step highlights the growing emphasis on nature conservation and sustainable material management, which are increasingly critical for long-term ecological balance.
Unifying Questionnaires for Climate, Forests, and Water
Another major change in 2024 was the unification of questionnaires for three key areas: climate change, forests, and water. Previously, these areas were assessed separately, requiring companies to complete multiple different forms. This year, they were consolidated into a single questionnaire, making the reporting process significantly more efficient.
Automated Sector-Specific Questionnaires
Further simplification came with the adaptation of questionnaires to specific sectors. In 2024, CDP automatically adjusted the questionnaire based on initial responses, ensuring that companies only had to fill out sections relevant to their industry. This approach not only saved time but also ensured more accurate assessments. However, companies could no longer avoid addressing sectors they previously overlooked. Since this was a new change, companies were not penalized for incomplete sector-specific responses in 2024. From next year, however, penalties will be introduced.
What to Expect in 2025? Stricter Requirements and Sector-Specific Focus
While 2024 was a year of innovation and change, 2025 will bring even stricter requirements and a stronger focus on concrete results. CDP will continue to emphasize climate targets, and companies will face greater pressure to demonstrate real actions leading to carbon neutrality and long-term climate goals.
Companies seeking CDP assessment will no longer be able to simply declare their commitment to climate action—they will need to provide tangible evidence of steps taken toward these goals. This trend will also extend to supply chains, requiring companies to consider the environmental impact of their suppliers when reporting.
How to Prepare for CDP 2025?
2025 presents both challenges and opportunities for companies aiming to lead in sustainability. If your company has not yet started completing CDP questionnaires, we recommend beginning as soon as possible.
Participating in CDP reporting is not just about meeting obligations—it’s about building a transparent and sustainable framework for measuring and managing environmental impacts. This can strengthen your market position and improve relationships with investors, customers, and employees.
If your company plans to take part in the CDP assessment and needs expert support in completing questionnaires or analyzing environmental data, we are here to help. As the only accredited CDP partner for the Czech Republic and Slovakia, we have extensive experience with this process and can provide valuable consulting to help you achieve the best possible results