Two leading organizations within the corporate sustainability ecosystem are deepening their collaboration to improve and streamline environmental reporting, following a Memorandum of Understanding that was signed between CDP and Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) during the COP29 Climate Change Conference in Baku.

GRI provides the global common language for organizations to report their environmental, social and economic impacts – the GRI Standards. CDP is the global independent disclosure system for companies to measure and manage their environmental impacts. Over 14,000 organizations use the GRI Standards while more than 24,800 companies representing over two thirds of global market capitalization disclose through CDP. The collaboration recognizes that, through CDP’s annual questionnaire, companies can report GRI-aligned data to stakeholders and the wider global market.

Under the new agreement, CDP and GRI will build capacity and streamline disclosure for companies, with the aim of increasing access to comparable data through environmental reporting that reflects the highest ambition. The MoU will help the two organizations to progress their technical alignment, including a mapping exercise to enhance interoperability and an assessment of CDP’s questionnaire and the GRI Topic Standards for climate change, water and biodiversity.

Cristina Gil White, Interim CEO of GRI, said: “For over 25 years, GRI has been a catalyst for organizations to understand and report their impacts, empowering them to unlock sustainable value and bring about positive change. The synergy with CDP, in terms of our shared ambitions for corporate reporting of environmental impacts to be more comprehensive and effective, is clear to see. As nations are gathered in Baku for crucial talks on how to quicken progress to achieve the Paris Agreement, I am delighted to sign this significant MoU with CDP. I believe the formal collaboration will lead to clarity for businesses and other stakeholders on the alignment between the GRI Standards and CDP’s questionnaire, increasing the ease of reporting in ways that deliver relevant and actionable data.” 

Sherry Madera, CEO of CDP, said: “CDP is proud to strengthen our collaboration with GRI. This agreement will enhance the efficiency of environmental reporting, enabling companies to provide more comparable and actionable data. By disclosing through CDP, companies can disclose GRI-aligned data directly to stakeholders and the wider global market. This is a crucial step in accelerating global climate action and ensuring businesses can meet the highest standards of transparency and accountability.”