22/05/2026
CDP, the world's largest environmental reporting platform, which conducts its Turkish operations under the umbrella of Sabancı University's Corporate Governance Forum, shared the performance of Turkish companies in climate change and nature reporting for 2025 at the 16th CDP Türkiye Climate Change and Nature Conference. CDP Türkiye, whose operations in Türkiye are primarily sponsored by Garanti BBVA, announced the results of the "CDP Türkiye 2025 Climate Change and Nature Report," containing analyses and findings for 2025, and the CDP Leaders, determined according to CDP's Global Rating Methodology, at the 16th Türkiye conference held on May 15th.
This year, ahead of the 31st Conference of the Parties (COP31) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, which Türkiye will host, the quality, comparability, and integration of environmental data into decision-making processes are playing a decisive role in the transformation of the business world. In this context, CDP stands out as a significant tool that can make companies' implementation capacity visible and strengthen accountability, going beyond being just a reporting platform. The “CDP Türkiye 2025 Climate Change and Nature Report” reveals the capacity of companies in Türkiye to transform environmental reporting into a competitive advantage. Prior to COP31, the report provides a robust framework outlining the level of preparedness of companies in transitioning from reporting to implementation.
Türkiye Achieves Strong Position in Environmental Reporting
Through CDP, over 22,100 companies will report their environmental data in 2025, with over 1,000 cities and regions also included in this process. In 2025, nearly 900 companies entered CDP's highest rating level, the Global A List. A total of 45 companies from Türkiye were included in at least one Global A List. Of the 27 companies worldwide that achieved the "Triple A" list – the highest level of leadership in all three categories (climate, water, and deforestation) – 5 are from Türkiye. The other 17 companies achieved "Double A" status by demonstrating leadership in two separate categories. With this success, Türkiye has become one of the strongest markets globally in the field of environmental reporting and performance within the CDP ecosystem.
Türkiye's Leadership Performance Above Average
According to the CDP Türkiye 2025 Climate Change and Nature Report, companies reporting from Türkiye performed above European and global averages, reaching 82% in climate change, 87% in water security, and 70% in deforestation at the "Management" and "Leadership" levels. This shows that environmental management is no longer an area exclusive to leading companies, but is increasingly being integrated into the corporate systems of a wider group of companies.
The Relationship Between Environmental Leadership and Financial Performance is Strengthening
Part of this year's report analyzes how leading companies with A and A- ratings manage environmental risks and opportunities financially, comparing them to companies with lower ratings. This difference is particularly clear on the opportunities side. Leading companies report that every $1 they invest in environmental initiatives has the potential to create approximately $4 in financial value, while this value is around $0.07 for lower-performing companies. This indicates a significant efficiency difference in identifying opportunities and converting them into financial value. A similar divergence is seen in risk management. Looking at the cost-risk ratio in leading companies, it appears that managing a risk costing $1 requires approximately $0.43. In contrast, lower-performing companies require approximately $5.9 to manage the same risk. This indicates that leading companies can manage financially significant risks at a relatively lower cost and potentially have a more targeted risk management approach.
Reporting depth and implementation level should be increased.
From the perspective of key climate reporting indicators, companies in Türkiye demonstrate a high and consistent level of maturity. However, a different picture emerges when examining the depth of commitments and the level of implementation of low-carbon economy transition tools. While 70% of companies report a climate transition plan aligned with 1.5°C, only 33% make a clear commitment to phasing out fossil fuels. Although net-zero targets are widespread (62%), only 12% of them are validated by the Science-Based Targets Initiative (SBTi). This shows a significant gap between target setting and science-based compliance. Similarly, while internal carbon pricing is becoming increasingly common, its scope of application is still limited; it is often not used as a mandatory mechanism covering all decision-making processes. Although the use of renewable energy has increased significantly, non-renewable sources still dominate total energy consumption. Overall, this picture shows that the basic structures necessary for climate management have been established; however, further progress is needed to ensure that these structures are reflected in decision-making processes in a consistent, comprehensive, and binding manner
While climate issues are integrated into company governance systems, progress on nature-related issues remains limited.
One of the most important structural findings emerging from the report is the significant difference in maturity regarding climate change compared to other nature-based issues. While approaches to identifying and managing risks for climate change are established across all companies (100%), this rate drops to 78% in water management, 36% in biodiversity, 24% in plastics, and 11% in deforestation. A similar divergence was observed in value chain interactions. This rate was 98% for climate, while it remained at 18% for plastics and 10% for deforestation. This picture shows that climate issues are deeply integrated into company systems, while nature-related issues are still addressed to a limited extent. Overall, nature-based reporting is progressing from the awareness stage to a more structured management. To reach the maturity level seen in climate and water areas, it is necessary to strengthen data infrastructure, develop target-setting approaches, and integrate nature-related issues more into strategic decision-making processes.
Compliance with Mandatory Reporting Frameworks is Increasingly High in Turkish Companies
Reporting under the CDP in Türkiye indicates a high and increasing compliance with mandatory sustainability frameworks. As of 2025, compliance with the Turkish Sustainability Reporting Standards (TSRS) has reached 83%, and compliance with the European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS) has reached 71%. Türkiye is well-positioned in terms of preparation for mandatory reporting frameworks, but companies have three key areas for improvement: linking the information generated to financial systems, incorporating it into decision-making processes, and connecting it to transition plans. These stages are critical for the transition from reporting to implementation.
CDP Data a Strong Reference Before COP31
As we approach COP31, which Türkiye will host, the importance of corporate environmental reporting is increasing even further. CDP data provides a strong and reliable reference for assessing companies' implementation capacity. Topics highlighted in CDP reporting, such as energy transition, water, nature, circular economy, transition planning, and climate finance, directly align with the core priorities of the COP31 action agenda. The findings reveal that companies reporting from Türkiye have not only increased the scale of their reporting but have also translated this into consistently strong performance. In this context, CDP data serves as a concrete and practical reference for assessing the readiness of companies for implementation and analyzing their level of alignment with national and global climate goals.
Keynote Speakers and Report Presentation
Speaking at the opening of the conference, themed “Towards COP31: Turning Reporting Momentum into Global Competitive Advantage,” Garanti BBVA Executive Vice President Cemal Onaran said, “At Garanti BBVA, sustainability is an integral part of our business model. Reaching Triple A status in the 2025 CDP assessment, achieving A ratings in all areas of climate change, water security, and deforestation, is a result of this approach. Climate, water, and nature are now determinants of economic resilience. In this regard, we continue to support transformation with our financial strength.”
COP30 High-Level Climate Champion Dan Ioschpe participated in the conference via video message. In his message, Ioschpe stated, “Environmental reporting, which was a niche 25 years ago, has become a global standard and fundamental requirement for the business world today; data, transparency, and reporting have made sustainable development and effective decision-making possible. Thanks to this structure, organizations awarded by CDP today not only meet a standard but also stand out as pioneers demonstrating how the practice is implemented.”
Deloitte Global Sustainable Finance Leader Hans-Juergen Walter, looking at the issue from a global perspective, said, “Companies should not limit themselves to regulatory compliance. They should see reporting not as an obligation, but as a tool for creating a competitive advantage. High-quality environmental reporting is a strategic leverage that attracts capital, strengthens market position, and makes it possible to build truly resilient, future-ready business models in a rapidly changing global environment.”
CDP Policy and Growth Director Pietro Bertazzi said, “With the implementation focus of the upcoming COP31, the reporting done by companies in Türkiye through CDP shows that leading companies are setting a high standard in environmental performance while also achieving commercial gains. In the rapidly changing global economy, the companies best prepared for the future will be those that can translate transparency into concrete action, integrate environmental data into strategic decision-making processes, and drive positive growth for our planet.”
Mirhan Köroğlu Göğüş, Country Manager of CDP Türkiye, shared the findings of the CDP Türkiye 2025 Climate and Nature Report, stating: “Looking at the report's findings, it is clear that environmental governance structures in Türkiye are built on a strong institutional foundation, but this structure has not yet spread in a balanced and holistic manner across all environmental themes and companies. In the coming period, companies' priority should be to strengthen their existing reporting infrastructure with deeper integration, broader environmental coverage, and more consistent implementation outcomes.”
2026 Triple A Leaders Panel
As part of the conference, a “2026 Triple A Leaders Panel” was held, moderated by Ozan Duygulu, Director of the Sabancı University Corporate Governance Forum. Participants included Mevhibe Canan Özsoy, Board Member of Garanti BBVA; Türker Tunalı, CFO of Akbank; and Kutay Kartallıoğlu, CEO of CarrefourSA.
In the panel, which addressed sustainable finance and the strategic management of sustainability, Mevhibe Canan Özsoy stated that the climate crisis is not only an environmental problem but also a global transformation issue involving physical, financial, and reputational risks. Türker Tunalı said that the collaboration of the financial sector, the real sector, and the technology ecosystem is critically important in the transition to a low-carbon economy. Kutay Kartallıoğlu, in his speech, drew attention to the fact that food retail is directly affected by the risks arising from climate change, emphasizing that Türkiye, due to its location in the Mediterranean basin, faces significant environmental risks in terms of food security and supply chains.
CDP Türkiye 2026 Award Ceremony
At the CDP Türkiye 2026 Award Ceremony, held at the end of the program, 45 companies that managed to enter the CDP Global A lists received their awards.
At the award ceremony, TÜSİAD Vice Chair of the Board Dr. Fatih Kemal Ebiçlioğlu and Murat Yünlü, Vice President of the Public Oversight Accounting and Auditing Standards Authority, each gave a speech and presented the awards to the companies.
In his speech, TÜSİAD Vice Chair of the Board Dr. Fatih Kemal Ebiçlioğlu said, “In this period of intensified geopolitical developments, it is necessary not to ignore the fact that the climate crisis is a scientific reality. We see the upcoming COP31 process as valuable in terms of reviving the topics brought up under the Paris Agreement. In this process, we consider it critically important for the business world to strongly focus on and prioritize sustainability reporting. I would like to thank CDP Türkiye for its contributions to raising awareness about sustainability reporting and transforming the business world in our country, which enabled us to witness these important developments today.”
Murat Yünlü, Vice President of the Public Oversight Accounting and Auditing Standards Authority, stated, "Sustainability reporting has emerged as a result of the integration of financial reporting and sustainability management disciplines. At the heart of this integration lies the decisive role of environmental and social factors on operational risks and financial opportunities. Reports prepared with this perspective focus on information of 'materiality' that investors use in their capital allocation decisions."
Triple A awards (5 companies)
Double A awards (17 companies)
Global A awards (23 companies)
CDP Cities A Leaders awards
Within the scope of the conference, awards were also presented to two municipalities that managed to enter the "CDP Cities A List". Ankara Metropolitan Municipality General Secretary Serhat Taşkınsu and Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Environmental Protection and Control Department Head Prof. Dr. Ayşen Erdinçler attended the ceremony to receive their awards.
To access the full report:
https://cdpturkey.sabanciuniv.edu/tr/content/cdp-turkiye-2025-iklim-ve-doga-raporu
For more information about CDP Türkiye:
