As 2018 comes to a close it is an important time to reflect on the momentous year for the climate agenda. Across the world extreme weather events have signalled a new climate normal while the IPCC warned that holding off the worst impacts of climate change will need emissions to half by 2030.

The way forward is clear: to change trajectory we need nothing short of a transformation of the global economy. We must all continue to rise to the challenge.

Across the world, we are seeing reasons for hope.

In fact, despite these hurdles, the transition to a low-carbon economy is being quickly cemented as another new reality; driven by a great deal of non-state action.

With the Financial Stability Board’s Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD), environmental disclosure has hit the mainstream. Through our upgraded disclosure platform, which incorporates the TCFD’s recommendations, the 7,000 companies that disclosed to CDP this year have already aligned their disclosures with those recommendations. Early analysis shows that 72% of listed companies were able to answer 21 or more of the 25 new TCFD questions in the CDP platform. 

Meanwhile, businesses, cities, states and regions across the world are stepping up and filling the void of inaction left by some laggard governments. From the 500 companies that are now committed to set science-based emissions reductions targets; to those moving toward 100% renewable electricity; the investors stepping up to shift their investments to low carbon; and cities, states and regions building ambition from the bottom up, we have seen tremendous progress towards a low-carbon future in 2018.

Hot on the heels of these exciting examples of action I am excited to move into 2019, where I expect to see even more progress.

There is movement. But there is no time to waste.

2019 needs to be the year we scale up climate action, safeguard our forests and move to protect our vital water supplies. It is the year for non-state actions to ramp up action, transparently report on their efforts and send a clear signal to governments that they are embracing the transition, and the need for policy ambition to match.

A sustainable, prosperous future is within our reach.

Now is the time to grasp it.

Thank you for you continued support of CDP this year. We look forward to continuing to work with you in 2019.

Read my full end of year message.

Best wishes,

Paul Simpson
CEO, CDP