# How is a CDP climate score calculated, from D to A?

Canonical: https://senseible.earth/answers/how-is-cdp-score-calculated

CDP scores each answer at four levels: Disclosure (D), Awareness (C), Management (B) and Leadership (A). Your points at each level are turned into a percentage, you must pass one level to be scored on the next, and an A also needs essential criteria such as third-party verification of emissions.

## What each level rewards

- Disclosure (D): you answered the questions fully. Blank or skipped questions earn nothing.
- Awareness (C): your answers show you understand how climate issues affect your business, for example you have assessed risks.
- Management (B): you act on it, with policies, targets, reduction projects and Scope 1 and 2 data that is complete.
- Leadership (A): best practice, such as verified emissions, science-based targets, a credible transition plan and engagement with your value chain.

## How the percentages become a letter

Each scored question carries points at one or more levels, and CDP weights categories such as governance, targets and emissions. Points earned at a level are divided by points available at that level. A minimum percentage at one level is needed before the next level counts. The final letter is the highest level you passed, and a lower percentage within that level gives the minus grade, such as B minus instead of B.

A company that was asked to respond and did not, or gave too little to score, gets an F. That is a mark of non-response, not a measure of emissions.

## Why a supplier with good data can still get a C

Management and Leadership points depend on actions and evidence, not just numbers. A supplier that reports accurate Scope 1 and 2 but has no target, no risk assessment and no Scope 3 screening tops out early. The fastest gains usually come from a board-approved target, a documented risk process, and screening the Scope 3 categories that matter.

## What an A needs beyond points

CDP sets essential criteria for the A List. They include a public response, third-party verification of Scope 1 and 2 emissions and of part of Scope 3 to a standard CDP accepts, and other criteria CDP lists for the cycle. Self-declared figures, however careful, do not earn the verification points. Read the current scoring methodology on cdp.net for the exact shares required.

## Hypothetical example: reading level percentages

- Disclosure: 76 of 80 points = 95%
- Awareness: 54 of 72 points = 75%
- Management: 33 of 66 points = 50%
- Leadership: 6 of 40 points = 15%
- If the pass mark to move up were 80% (hypothetical), this response would pass Disclosure, stop at Awareness, and score in the C band

Point totals and the pass mark are invented to show the mechanics. CDP publishes the real thresholds and weightings in its scoring methodology for each cycle.

## What Senseible does here

Senseible gives you Scope 1 and Scope 2 figures from your invoices and bills, with the source document and factor behind each line, which supports the Disclosure and Management questions on emissions. Its data is self-declared: a "Verified" status in Senseible means rule checks passed, not the third-party verification CDP Leadership points require.

- [A customer sent a CDP request: what to do](https://senseible.earth/answers/cdp-supply-chain-request-what-to-do)
- [CDP SME or full questionnaire?](https://senseible.earth/answers/cdp-sme-questionnaire-vs-full)
- [Limited vs reasonable assurance](https://senseible.earth/answers/limited-vs-reasonable-assurance-emissions)

Sources: [CDP Scoring Introduction and climate change scoring methodology, current cycle (cdp.net)](https://www.cdp.net)

Last reviewed 2026-10-16. CDP updates scoring thresholds, weightings and A List essential criteria each cycle; recheck the current methodology.