Tracking and reporting environmental data for CDP

Did you know that companies are collectively responsible for as much as 70% of global emissions? Businesses of all sizes have the power to drive meaningful action towards a sustainable future. Disclosing environmental data for independent accreditation enables firms to record and improve their contribution towards a healthier, more environmentally sustainable world.

The Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) is a trusted not-for-profit charity, and the world's only independent environmental disclosure system. Investors, companies, cities, states and regions use CDP to manage their environmental impacts. Energy Matters interviewed Enel X carbon disclosure experts Alvaro E Pereira and Luca Olivi to learn more about CDP and the disclosure expertise available through Enel X. In an illuminating discussion, the two explain the role and relevance of CDP, along with its importance in driving transparency in monitoring and managing business emissions.

Key takeaways include the relevance of CDP when securing investment, in the face of growing market demand for environmental disclosure. Increasing numbers of investors and large purchasers require firms to disclose their environmental data through CDP as a condition of doing business with them.

The discussion also considered the challenges faced by organisations as they work to submit annual disclosures, including:

• Getting a complete understanding of their global data
• Understanding energy consumption, how it’s made up and where it comes from
• Gathering data on Scope 3 (indirect) emissions
• Ensuring the organisation is aligned to achieve its sustainability goals

It emerges that disclosure through CDP can give businesses a competitive advantage, or an edge when securing investment – even making the difference between getting on a procurement shortlist or not. Additionally, we learn that companies have saved billions of dollars by, for example, reducing CO2 waste. We also see that CDP helps companies prepare for potential reporting rule changes, and identify emerging environmental risks and opportunities.