CDP questionnaire 2026
The CDP questionnaire 2026, module by module
The CDP questionnaire 2026 is one integrated questionnaire: the full corporate version has 13 modules, and a shorter SME version has ten.
CDP published it on 22 April 2026, adding ocean questions for the first time and three newly scored forest commodities.
This page walks through each module, the SME route and what changed from 2025.
The basics
One questionnaire, one response to every requester
In 2024 CDP integrated its separate climate change, water security and forests questionnaires into a single reporting framework, and 2026 is the third cycle on that basis.
There is therefore no longer a separate CDP climate change questionnaire: climate is the part of the integrated questionnaire every company answers.
A company submits one integrated response, which goes to every organisation that requested it.
Which questions appear depends on questionnaire setup: your revenue and headcount, your business activities, the issues you have assessed, and who asked you.
The questionnaire, reporting guidance and scoring methodology are meant to be read together, and the methodology assumes answers follow the guidance.
How the whole framework is scored is on the CDP reporting framework, and what CDP is, who asks and why, on CDP reporting.
The 2026 questionnaire timeline
- 22 Apr 2026Questionnaire and guidance published
- 30 Apr 2026Scoring introduction and changes published
- 10 Jun 2026Revision 1.1
Guidance clarifications; IFRS S2-based jurisdictional alignment flagged.
- w/c 15 Jun 2026Response window opens
- 16 Sep 2026Scoring deadline
Sources: CDP Version Control Table 2026; Scoring Changes 2026; CDP Terms of Disclosure
Full corporate questionnaire
The 13 modules, in plain language
Modules 1 to 6, 12 and 13 are integrated across issues; 7 to 9 belong to one issue each; 10 and 11 cover plastics and biodiversity and are not scored in 2026.
| Module | Title | What it asks, in brief | Scored in 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Introduction | Reporting year, boundary, revenue, activities, commodities and, for opt-in disclosers, ocean | Yes |
| 2 | Identification, assessment and management of dependencies, impacts, risks and opportunities | How you find and assess risks, priority locations, pollutants; SBTN "Assess" from 2026 | Yes |
| 3 | Disclosure of dependencies, impacts, risks and opportunities | The risks and opportunities with substantive effect, and their financial effect | Yes |
| 4 | Governance | Board oversight, management responsibility, incentives, policies, engagement on policy | Yes |
| 5 | Business strategy | Scenario analysis, transition plans, financial planning, value-chain engagement, targets | Yes |
| 6 | Environmental performance — consolidation approach | The consolidation basis used for each issue | Yes |
| 7 | Environmental performance — climate change | Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions, verification, energy, emissions targets | Yes |
| 8 | Environmental performance — forests | Commodity volumes, origin, traceability, deforestation- and conversion-free status, targets | Yes |
| 9 | Environmental performance — water security | Water accounting, stressed areas, discharges and treatment, targets | Yes |
| 10 | Environmental performance — plastics | Plastic targets, reuse models, packaging formats, design for recycling | No |
| 11 | Environmental performance — biodiversity | Supplementary biodiversity questions; extra datapoints for mining projects | No |
| 12 | Environmental performance — financial services | Portfolio-level questions for banks, asset managers, asset owners and insurers | Yes |
| 13 | Further information and sign-off | Third-party verification and sign-off | Yes |
In the integrated modules, many questions ask for a row per issue, and only the relevant row is scored for each issue unless the methodology says otherwise.
If a question asks you to tag which issues a row applies to and you leave the tag blank, that row may not be scored at all.
Module 12 is presented only to financial services organisations, and Module 7 is where most first responses thin out, because Scope 3 needs data from suppliers; see Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions.
Each issue’s content in its own right is covered on CDP environmental reporting.
Full or SME
Full corporate or SME questionnaire: who uses which
CDP runs two corporate questionnaires: the full questionnaire, with sector-specific datapoints, and the SME questionnaire, with fewer and simpler ones.
Which you may use is decided at setup from your annual revenue and staff headcount; CDP introduced the SME questionnaire in 2024.
A Self-Selected Company that meets the SME tests can choose either version.
From 2026, companies requested by RE100 can no longer use the SME questionnaire, because the full version carries the datapoints RE100 needs.
The SME questionnaire runs from Module 14 (introduction) to Module 23 (further information and sign-off), and in 2026 gained new optional forests (21) and water security (22) modules, which are unscored.
It is scored for climate change only, and for the first time an SME can earn an SME A score — which CDP says is not equivalent to a full-questionnaire A.
SMEs are not asked about ocean, plastics or biodiversity, and the admin fee is the same for both versions.
CDP “strongly encourages” companies engaging with capital markets, responding to customers or working towards leadership recognition to use the full questionnaire.
What changed from 2025
What changed in the 2026 questionnaire
| Area | What changed in 2026 | Scoring effect |
|---|---|---|
| Ocean | Ocean questions added for the first time, woven into modules 1–5 and 13; opt-in for real-economy sectors on the full questionnaire | Unscored |
| Forests | Cocoa, coffee and rubber scored alongside cattle, palm oil, soy and timber; changes to no-deforestation and no-conversion target reporting | Scored; commodity sub-scores for all seven |
| Water security | More detail on wastewater treatment (9.2.9), pollutant management, exclusions (9.1.1) and SBTN freshwater targets | Scored |
| Plastics | Opt-in for all full-questionnaire disclosers; new questions on targets, reuse models, packaging formats and design for recycling (Module 10) | Unscored |
| Climate change | Energy questions revised for RE100's updated criteria; land-sector questions to prepare for the GHG Protocol Land Sector and Removals Standard | Some agriculture-guidance scoring removed |
| Adaptation and resilience | Existing questions broadened across risk, governance, strategy and financial planning | Minor scoring changes |
| Verification | Emissions verification under standards approved for ESRS assurance accepted (7.9.1–7.9.3) | Accepted if fully reported |
| Sectors | New Aviation sector; gas utilities merged into energy utilities and power generators; real estate services moved to Real estate | Scored on primary sector |
| SMEs | Optional forests and water modules; SME A score for climate change; simpler guidance | Forests and water unscored |
CDP framed the 2026 changes as deepening alignment with global standards, expanding to ocean and making the data more usable.
Its 2026 alignment work named the TNFD, GRI, the Science Based Targets Network, the GHG Protocol and the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s Global Commitment on plastics, as set out on CDP’s framework alignment page.
On the scoring side CDP says the methodology “remained largely stable”; the changes that move grades are set out on CDP scores.
CDP also introduced an optional AI feature that suggests answers from uploaded documents, rolled out in phases from June 2026, according to its FAQs; suggestions can be reviewed, edited or ignored.
Questionnaire setup
Setup decides which questions you see
Before any module appears, you complete questionnaire setup.
Revenue and headcount decide whether the SME version is open to you; CDP says this information is not shared with your requesting customers.
Your activities under CDP’s Activity Classification System decide your questionnaire sectors — any sector with at least 20% of revenue — and whether CDP’s industry classification asks you about forests or water.
Every discloser is assigned climate questions; if you say you will not submit climate data, CDP treats that as non-disclosure.
If you accept a new request after completing setup, you must resubmit the setup so the questionnaire picks up that requester’s questions; progress already made is kept.
Only a handful of questions are mandatory for submission — 1.1, 1.2 and 1.4 for everyone, 1.10 for financial services, and 7.26 if a Supply Chain member requested you.
| Setup section | What it decides |
|---|---|
| About your organisation | Revenue and headcount — full or SME eligibility |
| Activity classification | Your CDP-ACS activities — sector questions and forests/water impact |
| Assessment of environmental issues | Whether you have assessed forests, water, ocean and plastics (full only) |
| Intent to submit | Which issues you will disclose on, including opt-ins |
| Additional information | Commodities produced or sourced; mining projects (full only) |
Scoring weight
Which questions carry the most weight?
There is no single list, because CDP weights scoring categories by sector.
Disclosure and Awareness are simple percentages of the points available; Management and Leadership are weighted by scoring category, and each sector has its own weightings.
CDP publishes the category mapping and weightings documents with its methodology on the How to Disclose page, and they are the only reliable answer for your sector.
Two things outweigh any weighting: the essential criteria, which gate each level, and completeness, because unanswered questions score zero and certain key datapoints count against a larger denominator.
Some questions use best-row or best-question scoring, so one strong row or target can carry a question.
The levels, thresholds and essential criteria are explained on CDP scores and scoring methodology 2026.
Essential criteria can cap a score regardless of points.
Category weightings apply only at Management and Leadership, and vary by sector.
For targets, only the higher-scoring of the absolute (7.53.1) and intensity (7.53.2) questions counts.
Official guidance
Where to find the official questionnaire and guidance
The questionnaire itself
View the questionnaire, reporting guidance and scoring methodology for your sector and issues, and export them as PDFs. Answers are entered here.
How to Disclose and the question bank
Scoring introductions, essential criteria, category weightings, scoring changes and the verification FAQ, plus a summary of the year’s changes.
Knowledge articles and support
Step-by-step articles on setup, fees, submission and scores, and a case system for questions the articles do not answer.
CDP’s How to Disclose page links the scoring materials, and its question bank page summarises the year’s changes.
Its bite-sized guidance for 2026 picks out the key questions for each issue, including ocean and plastics.
CDP notes that its documents are updated during the cycle, so check the version number: the 2026 questionnaire was revised on 10 June 2026.
For 2027, CDP says it expects “no major changes” to the questionnaire, and the window moves earlier: see the CDP reporting timeline.
Emissions answers follow the GHG Protocol, and the mapping to other frameworks is on CDP reporting standards.
To talk your questionnaire through, book a free 15-minute call.
Frequently asked
CDP questionnaire 2026 — frequently asked
What modules are in the CDP questionnaire 2026?
The 2026 full corporate questionnaire has 13 modules: 1 Introduction; 2 identification, assessment and management of dependencies, impacts, risks and opportunities; 3 disclosure of those risks and opportunities; 4 Governance; 5 Business strategy; 6 consolidation approach; 7 climate change; 8 forests; 9 water security; 10 plastics; 11 biodiversity; 12 financial services; and 13 further information and sign-off. Modules 10 and 11 are unscored in 2026.
What is the difference between the CDP full and SME questionnaires?
The full corporate questionnaire is for large organisations and includes sector-specific datapoints. The SME questionnaire has fewer, simplified datapoints, uses modules 14 to 23, and is scored for climate change only. Eligibility for the SME version depends on revenue and headcount entered at setup; from 2026, companies requested by RE100 must use the full questionnaire. The admin fee is the same for both.
What changed in the CDP questionnaire from 2025 to 2026?
Ocean questions were added for the first time, opt-in and unscored. Cocoa, coffee and rubber became scored forest commodities. Water questions on wastewater treatment, pollutants and exclusions were revised. The plastics module gained questions on targets, reuse and packaging. Climate questions were broadened for adaptation and resilience, energy questions revised for RE100, and land-sector questions added to prepare for the GHG Protocol's new standard. SMEs gained optional forests and water modules and an SME A score.
Is there a separate CDP climate change questionnaire?
Not since 2024. CDP integrated its separate climate change, water security and forests questionnaires into a single corporate questionnaire in 2024. Climate change is asked of every company, and it has its own environmental-performance module (Module 7), but the governance, strategy and risk questions cover all the issues a company answers.
Which CDP questions carry the most scoring weight?
There is no single answer, because CDP weights scoring categories by sector, and only at the Management and Leadership levels; Disclosure and Awareness are simple percentages. CDP publishes the category mapping and weightings for each sector alongside its methodology. Essential criteria matter more than any single weighting, because missing one caps the score at the level below.
Where is the official CDP questionnaire guidance?
In the CDP Portal, where the questionnaire, reporting guidance and scoring methodology can be viewed and exported as PDFs, and on CDP's How to Disclose page, which links the scoring materials. CDP also publishes a question bank page, bite-sized guidance and a Help Center of knowledge articles. The 2026 questionnaire and guidance were published on 22 April 2026.
Will the CDP questionnaire change for 2027?
CDP says it expects "no major changes" to the questionnaire for 2027, which is one of its reasons for shortening the 2027 response window. It has said it will share more information about the 2027 cycle, including any questionnaire changes, on its 2027 Disclosure Hub.
Sources
Primary sources
Every figure, date and status on this page traces to the instrument’s owner. Secondary commentary is never the source for a number.
- CDPPreparing for CDP's 2026 disclosure cycle: key changes to the 2026 questionnaire (January 2026)
The 2024 integration; ocean, forests, water, plastics, climate, adaptation and SME changes; SME module layout; setup changes.
- CDPFull Corporate Scoring Introduction 2026 (V1.2)
13 modules; which are integrated; what is scored; primary sector; weighting at Management and Leadership.
- CDPFull Corporate Scoring Changes 2026
Module titles; question-level changes; Aviation sector.
- CDPCorporate Questionnaire Setup Preview 2026
Revenue and headcount; CDP-ACS; assessment of forests, water, ocean and plastics; intent to submit; no ocean, plastics or biodiversity for SMEs.
- CDPCorporate Questionnaire Version Control Table 2026 (V1.2)
Published 22 April 2026; revisions of 10 June 2026.
- CDPDisclosure 2026: Bite-Sized Questionnaire Guidance
Key questions by issue, including ocean and plastics KPIs.
- CDPOur Question Bank
The 2026 changes; 3,500+ companies on climate, deforestation and water together in 2025.
- CDPFAQs — what you are asked, scores, AI response suggestions
Who is asked which issues; SME A score; publication weeks; the phased AI feature.
- CDP Help CenterKA-01160 — Understand your score
Scored and unscored issues in 2026; SME scored for climate only.
- CDP Help CenterKA-01079 — Submitting and editing your CDP response
Mandatory questions; resubmitting setup after a late request.
- CDPHow to Disclose — scoring materials
Where the questionnaire, guidance and scoring documents are published.
- CDPDisclosure 2027 hub
"No major changes expected to the questionnaire" in 2027.
- CDPAlignment with disclosure frameworks and standards
IFRS S2, TNFD, GRI and GHG Protocol alignment, including the Land Sector and Removals Standard.
- GHG ProtocolCorporate Value Chain (Scope 3) Standard
The Scope 3 categories behind Module 7.
Continue reading
Read next
CDP scores and scoring methodology 2026
How each module feeds a D- to A score, and when scores come out.
CDP methodology and reporting framework
How questions are scored: approaches, weightings and essential criteria.
CDP environmental reporting
Climate, water, forests, plastics, biodiversity and ocean in their own right.