CDP's AI Tool Reduces Environmental Disclosure Time by 40%

Published on: July 23, 2026•4 min read

by KnowESG

CDP launches an AI tool with Briink to cut environmental reporting time by 40% for its 2026 disclosure cycle.

Takeaways

CDP has launched an AI-powered disclosure tool that can reduce environmental reporting preparation time by an average of 40%.
The optional feature helps organizations generate draft responses using existing corporate documents while keeping final approval in human hands.
The initiative aims to improve reporting efficiency without compromising the accuracy, consistency, or reliability of environmental disclosures.

As environmental reporting becomes more demanding, global disclosure platform CDP has introduced a new artificial intelligence tool designed to make the reporting process faster and more efficient. The new Suggested Response feature, developed in partnership with sustainability AI company Briink, will be available to organizations participating in CDP's 2026 disclosure cycle from 23 July.

The AI-powered solution is intended to reduce the time companies spend preparing environmental disclosures while maintaining the quality and consistency expected by investors, regulators, and other stakeholders.

The tool works by reviewing existing corporate documents such as annual reports and sustainability reports. It identifies relevant information, links that content to CDP's disclosure questions, and prepares draft responses directly within the reporting platform. Companies remain responsible for reviewing, editing, and approving every response before submitting their disclosures, making the feature entirely optional.

According to CDP, early testing produced encouraging results. Nearly 800 organizations were given access to the feature before its public rollout. On average, participating companies reduced disclosure preparation time by 40%, while response and completion rates increased by 25%. The organization also reported a 60% improvement in the depth and completeness of submitted responses.

These improvements could prove particularly valuable for businesses navigating multiple sustainability frameworks, evolving regulations, and growing investor expectations. Many organizations now collect climate, water, and nature-related data across numerous business units and supply chains, making disclosure increasingly resource-intensive.

Sherry Madera, CEO of CDP, said the new technology builds on the organization's long-standing mission to improve environmental transparency. She noted that AI represents the next step in simplifying sustainability reporting while helping organizations generate greater value from informed environmental decision-making.

The growing importance of disclosure is reflected in CDP's expanding reach. More than 23,000 organizations submitted environmental data through the platform in 2025, representing nearly two-thirds of global market capitalization. The reporting network also included more than 1,000 cities, states, and regions, making CDP data a widely used resource for investors, lenders, policymakers, and procurement teams evaluating climate-related risks and transition readiness.

Industry leaders have welcomed the development. Antonia Wanner, Chief Sustainability Officer at Nestlé, said the technology could improve reporting efficiency while allowing sustainability teams to devote more time to delivering measurable environmental impact. Similarly, Matthias Berninger, Executive Vice President of Public Affairs, Sustainability & Safety at Bayer AG, said AI would help make CDP reporting more consistent by reducing repetitive administrative work and enabling teams to focus on improving sustainability performance.

Despite the productivity gains, CDP has emphasized that human oversight remains essential. Organizations will continue to bear full responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, and final approval of every disclosure. This approach is intended to ensure that AI supports reporting teams rather than replacing professional judgement.

As companies increasingly adopt AI across compliance and sustainability functions, governance will remain a key consideration. Strong review procedures, reliable source documentation, and management oversight will be necessary to ensure that AI-generated content meets regulatory and stakeholder expectations.

Also Read: ESG Reporting Tools: Best Practices for Creating Impactful Disclosures

Looking ahead, CDP plans to introduce additional AI capabilities focused on improving disclosure preparation, strengthening data quality, and supporting better decision-making. The latest launch signals a broader shift toward using artificial intelligence to streamline sustainability reporting while preserving the credibility and trust that environmental disclosures require.

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Source: ESG NEWS