CDP disclosure: climate change, water and forests

CDP runs a global environmental disclosure system that investors and large customers use to compare companies. Each year, companies answer CDP's questionnaire, on their own initiative or because a customer or investor has asked them to, and receive a score. Responding also shows you your own performance the way investors and customers see it.

VPA India prepares CDP responses that are complete, consistent with your other reporting and built to improve your score over time.

Why it matters

For many suppliers, the CDP response is how a large customer sees their climate performance; for listed companies, it is one of the sources investors draw on. A clear, complete response supports both relationships.

How CDP works

CDP's questionnaire covers climate change, forests and water security, which are scored, as well as plastics, biodiversity and, since 2026, oceans, which are not scored. Smaller companies can answer a separate SME questionnaire. In 2026 the response window opened in mid-June, with the deadline for scored responses in mid-September. Scores run from D- to A across four levels – disclosure, awareness, management and leadership – so a better-run programme shows up in a better score over time. A company that is asked to respond but gives no response, or too little to score, is shown as not disclosing.

Themes we cover

Climate change is the starting point for most companies. Water security matters for water-intensive sites and regions under water stress, and forests for companies that buy or produce commodities such as timber, palm oil, soy, cattle products, cocoa, coffee or rubber.

What we do

Requests and scope. Identify which customers or investors have asked for your response, and which themes apply to you.
Data preparation. Prepare emissions, energy, water and other data, consistent with your GHG inventory and BRSR, so that figures match across reports.
Response drafting. Draft clear, evidenced answers to each question, ready for entry in CDP's online response system.
Score improvement. Compare your score with CDP's scoring criteria and plan the actions – governance, targets, risk management and verification – that lift it, one cycle at a time.
Verification readiness. Prepare your emissions data for third-party verification to a standard that CDP accepts.
Supply chain programmes. If you ask your own suppliers to disclose through CDP, design the request and analyse the responses.
Alignment with other reporting. Keep your CDP answers consistent with your BRSR, sustainability report and any IFRS S2 disclosures, so that the same figures appear everywhere.

How we work

Scope. Confirm the requests, the themes and whether the full or SME questionnaire applies.
Data. Collect the data and check it against your GHG inventory and other reports.
Draft. Prepare evidenced answers for your team to review.
Submit and improve. Your team submits before CDP's deadline; we then analyse the score and plan next year's improvements.

What you receive

A scoping note and response plan
A draft response for review, question by question
A data workbook linked to your GHG inventory
A score gap analysis and improvement roadmap
A data calendar for next year's response

Who we work with

Suppliers asked to respond by their customers, listed companies asked by investors, first-time responders and companies aiming to improve an existing score.

Frequently asked questions

A customer has asked us to respond to CDP. Where do we start?

With your greenhouse gas inventory and the list of themes your customer has requested. We then plan the response around the data you have and fill the most important gaps first. If the request comes through CDP's supply chain programme, CDP sets the questionnaire and the deadline.

Is CDP the same as BRSR or IFRS S2?

No. The BRSR is a SEBI requirement for listed companies in India, and IFRS S2 is a climate disclosure standard; CDP is a disclosure platform with its own questionnaire and scores. Much of the data overlaps, so we prepare it once and use it for each.

What score can we expect?

Scores depend on what your company does as well as what it discloses, so improving a score usually means improving the underlying management: targets, governance, risk management and verification. First responses focus on getting complete, accurate data in place; later cycles build on it. We help you plan that path.