It aims to make environmental reporting and risk management a business norm, driving disclosure, insight, and action towards a sustainable economy.

[5][4] CDP works with corporations, cities, states, and regions to help develop carbon emissions reductions strategies.

CDP requests information on climate risks and low carbon opportunities from the world's largest companies[7] on behalf of over 800 institutional investor signatories with a combined US$100 trillion in assets.

In 2016, some 90 organizations, representing over US$2.5 trillion of purchasing power, requested that their suppliers disclose information on how they are approaching climate and water risks and opportunities.

Data was gathered from over 4,000 suppliers worldwide,[9][non-primary source needed] who reported over US$12 billion worth of savings from emission reduction activities.

CDP's forests program was first set up by the UK Government's Department for International Development via the Global Canopy Programme and the JMG Foundation.

[16] A high CDP score is supposed to be indicative of a company's environmental awareness, advanced sustainability governance and leadership to address climate change.