Excellence in Market Policy & Advisory

Winner: Carbon Disclosure Project

The Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) is an independent not-for-profit organisation holding the largest database of primary corporate climate change information in the world. CDP was launched in 2000 to accelerate solutions to climate change by putting relevant information at the heart of business, policy and investment decisions. CDP furthers this mission by harnessing the collective power of corporations, investors and political leaders to accelerate unified action on climate change.

In 2009, 2,500 organisations in some 60 countries around the world measured and disclosed their greenhouse gas emissions and climate change strategies through CDP, in order to set reduction targets and make performance improvements. In 2010, more companies than ever before are reporting through CDP and managing their emissions. This data is made available by CDP for use by a wide audience including institutional investors, corporations, policymakers and their advisors, public sector organisations, government bodies, academics and the public.

The CDP is helping provide the transparency that investors and other stakeholders require to evaluate how companies are positioned to cope with climate risks and opportunities. It also encourages companies to take steps towards managing their carbon emissions. The project thus provides an important complement to the EU Emissions Trading Scheme since more than 60% of European companies participating in CDP are not covered by the EU ETS.

In our view, the CDP’s importance lies in the fact that it represents a business view of the response to the climate change threat … and at a time when many governments around the world are suffering from ‘climate fatigue’ as they focus on the economic and fiscal downturn. CDP is a key catalyst for action for those companies and governments looking towards our low-carbon future, providing members with the advice and policy solutions to meet this global challenge. In so doing CDP harmonises climate change data from organisations around the world and develops international carbon reporting standards. As such, CDP operates the only global climate change reporting system on behalf of 534 institutional investors (holding US$64 trillion in assets under management) and some 60 purchasing organisations.

“Carbon management continues to rise as a strategic priority for many businesses. This is fuelled by opportunities to reduce energy costs; secure energy supply; protect the business from climate change risk and damaged reputation; as well as generating revenue and remaining competitive. Companies globally are seizing commercial carbon opportunities, often acting ahead of any policy requirements,” says Paul Dickinson, Executive Chairman at the Carbon Disclosure Project.

For the future, CDP has set three key focus areas for the immediate future. “One is to work with companies and the users of its data to continue improving quality and comparability. Data that supports action is central to fulfilling CDP’s mission. As part of this process, CDP is launching a new package – Reporter Services – exclusively for responding companies, to help them develop their carbon management strategies through increased data quality, deeper analysis and the sharing of best practice,” adds Dickinson.

Climate change constitutes a massive threat but also a huge opportunity for those businesses which act to succeed in mainstreaming low-carbon solutions to avert dangerous global warming. The CDP has shown its value … 3,000 leading companies partner with the CDP to accelerate their mission, together with over 500 investment firms and numerous governments.

The Award for Excellence in Market Policy & Advisory 2010 was presented to Paul Dickinson, Executive Chariman at the Carbon Disclosure Project by Gyles Brandreth, celebrated British author, broadcaster, actor and former Conservative Member of Parliament.