Why working with CDP means working towards the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are the UN’s blueprint for a more sustainable future for all. Their adoption put environmental degradation, sustainability, climate change, and water security under the international spotlight. The global goals aim to leave no one behind and are vital to achieving CDP’s vision for a thriving economy that works for people and planet. Corporate action will be crucial to delivering the 2030 Agenda and by disclosing to CDP companies can contribute towards and track progress against the SDGs.
Click the goals below to see how CDP can help track the environmental SDGs
SDG6: Ensure access to water and sanitation for all
Industry accounts for over 19% of global water withdrawal, and agricultural supply chains for 70% more. What gets measure gets managed, and at CDP, we’ve seen an increasing number of companies tracking, managing and implementing water solutions.
SDG 6 cannot be achieved without corporate action, but significant progress will rely on robust data on the current landscape and what needs to change to ensure environmental sustainability on water. With the largest corporate water dataset in the world, CDP can offer insights to measure and track progress and accelerate action towards meeting Sustainable Development Goal 6.
View CDP’s SDG infographic for more on corporate water action >>
SDG7: Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy
Energy supply accounts for around 60% of global greenhouse gas emissions. While some 17% of energy consumption is now met with renewables, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change warns this needs to hit around 85% by 2050 to avoid the worst impacts of climate change.
Some 21% of companies reporting to CDP now have targets to boost the production or consumption of renewable energy and through programmes such as RE100 we support businesses to switch to renewable power. Meanwhile, through CDP’s disclosure process, companies and investors can track global progress towards a clean energy future.
See more on CDP’s work on renewable energy >>
SDG11: Make cities inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable
Over 50% of our global population live in cities. They are also responsible for around 70% of global energy related emissions. They are on the frontline of both climate impacts and the transition to a sustainable future for all.
But our cities are changing. More than ever, they are leading the way to building a sustainable economy. Some 620+ are now using disclosure as the critical first step towards building collective resilience and taking ambitious climate action while CDP’s Open Data Portal offers the critical insights on city action globally.
Find out more about CDP’s work on cities >>
SDG12: Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns
Sustainable consumption and production promotes resource and energy efficiency, sustainable infrastructure and access to green and decent jobs and a better quality of life. It is at the heart of progress towards building a sustainable economy that works for both people and planet in the long term.
The goal centres on the interconnectedness of the private and public sectors, and encourages companies, especially large and transnational companies, to adopt sustainable practices and to integrate sustainability information into their reporting cycle. Reporting to CDP can ensure alignment with SDG 12 and can help identify opportunities to build greater ambition towards its implementation.
Find out more about CDP’s disclosure process here >>
SDG13: Take urgent action to combat climate and its impacts
To hold warming to below 1.5oC and avoid the worst impacts of climate change, science demands that greenhouse gas emissions must urgently peak, and reduce down to zero by 2050. Improving corporate awareness by measuring and disclosing environmental impact is essential to the management of carbon and climate risk.
At CDP we request information on climate risks and low carbon opportunities from the world’s largest companies on behalf of over 650 institutional investors, and encourage companies to take ambitious action such as setting a price on carbon or science-based emission reduction targets.
Find out more about CDP’s work on climate change >>
SDG15: Sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, halt and reverse land degradation, halt biodiversity loss
Forests are crucial to global sustainable development, affecting both the natural environment and economic prosperity. They are home to 80% of the world terrestrial specific, provide clean water, prevent soil erosion and flood, and can provide one third of carbon mitigation efforts needs to hold temperature rise below 2oC. Some 1.6 billion people depend on forests for sustenance, duel and medicinal plants, while 10 million people are employed in the forestry sector worldwide.
Through its forest questionnaire, CDP collects relevant company data to track private sector implementation of the SDGs and enable companies to report on their success.
Find out more about how CDP’s forest work aligns with the SDGs >>
