CDP reports 70% jump in companies receiving top sustainability reporting scores

CDP has reported a significant increase in companies achieving its highest sustainability reporting scores, highlighting growing momentum behind environmental transparency and data-driven climate action. Results from the 2025 disclosure cycle show that the number of companies awarded an “A” score across CDP’s core categories rose sharply compared to the previous year.

In total, 877 companies made CDP’s A List in 2025, representing an increase of more than 70 percent year on year. Even more notably, the number of organisations earning a “Triple A” rating for achieving top scores across climate change, water security and forests nearly tripled to 23, underscoring a broader shift toward more comprehensive environmental reporting.

 

Disclosure Momentum Despite Fewer Filers

 

CDP operates one of the world’s largest environmental disclosure systems, enabling investors, buyers and policymakers to assess corporate performance on climate, water and deforestation risks. While the total number of companies disclosing through CDP edged down slightly in 2025 to around 22,100, from 22,777 the year before, participation from financial markets remained strong.

During the reporting cycle, 640 institutional investors representing US$127 trillion in assets requested disclosure through CDP. In parallel, more than 270 major purchasing organisations sought environmental data from roughly 45,000 suppliers via the CDP Supply Chain programme, reinforcing the role of disclosure in capital allocation and procurement decisions.

 

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More Companies Reaching the Top

 

According to CDP, 4 percent of all scored companies achieved an “A” score in at least one category in 2025, up from just over 2 percent in 2024. Climate change remained the largest category, with 751 companies awarded an A rating, a 63 percent increase from the prior year. Water security saw one of the strongest jumps, with A scores nearly doubling to 263 companies, while the number of top performers in forests more than doubled to 55.

Regionally, companies in Asia and Europe led the rankings. Countries with the highest proportion of A List companies included Japan, France and Türkiye at 12 percent, followed by Portugal and Spain at 9 percent and Taiwan at 8 percent. The results point to increasing alignment between regulatory pressure, investor expectations and corporate disclosure practices in these markets.

 

Triple A Recognition and Market Signals

 

The 23 companies awarded CDP’s “Triple A” distinction span sectors including finance, consumer goods, materials and real estate, reflecting the growing expectation that leading organisations manage climate, water and forest impacts in an integrated manner. While only a small share of disclosing companies achieved this level, CDP noted that the rapid growth in top scores signals broader progress in the quality and consistency of environmental data.

Sherry Madera, Chief Executive Officer of CDP, said the 2025 results show that markets increasingly view environmental data as essential infrastructure for decision-making. She noted that while the A List highlights leading performers, the more important trend is the expanding global commitment to making environmental information visible, comparable and actionable.

 

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Raising the Bar for Sustainability Reporting

 

The sharp increase in top scores suggests that more companies are moving beyond basic disclosure toward stronger governance, clearer targets and measurable action across environmental priorities. As sustainability data becomes more closely tied to financial risk, regulation and supply chain resilience, CDP’s 2025 results indicate that transparency is rapidly becoming a baseline expectation rather than a differentiator.