Carbon Disclosure Project seeking global forests partner

The Carbon Disclosure Project, which gathers environmental data on behalf of 655 institutional investors with $78trn (€62.3bn) in assets, is seeking a consultancy to assist with its newly absorbed Forest Footprint Disclosure programme.

It has issued a request for proposal (RFP) for a ‘Global Forests Partner’ to steer the FFD for three years from 2013.

“Given the nature of the FFD project, a leading consultancy or global audit and advisory firm would be particularly suitable as a partner,” the RFP states. Global Forests Partner status is being offered for £150,000 (€190,000) per year.

The partner will score company disclosures, report back to companies and generate an annual presentation of key findings.

The CDP announced it would merge with the investor-backed FFD in June this year to create the world’s “most comprehensive natural capital disclosure system”. The FFD, which was launched in 2009, promotes corporate disclosure on exposure to deforestation.
Among the FFD’s investor backers are major asset owners with a combined $7trn in assets. They include APG Asset Management, the California State Teachers’ Retirement System (CalSTRS), the Connecticut Retirement Plans And Trust Funds, the Environment Agency Active Pension Fund, Norges Bank Investment Management, PGGM Investments, Railpen Investments and VicSuper.“This role will position the Global Forests Partner at the heart of the most recent addition to the CDP portfolio of programmes,” the RFP says. The FFD replicates the CDP’s method of sending an annual information request to companies on behalf of investors.

“A leading consultancy or audit and advisory firm would be suitable”

The CDP says the rapid expansion of its water disclosure programme shows the growth potential of the Forest Disclosure Programme. The CDP Water program has grown from 137 investor backers (with $16trn in assets) and 150 responding companies in 2010, to 354 investors ($43trn) and 238 responders in 2011. There has been more than half a million downloads of CDP reports in the last three years and 575,000 visits to the CDP website in 2011 alone.

The new partnership offers “uniquely attractive touch points for potential new business generation”, the RFP states. The partner will be able to position itself as a leading advisor around forest impacts, responsible sourcing and supply chain management. The partner, who will have co-branding rights, will also have early access to FFD data.

The CDP is seeking proposals by August 30, with the partner to be selected by September 14.

Link to CDP home page