CDP report finds companies saved US$54bn from low carbon initiatives but only 11% align capital expenditure with transition strategies

CDP published a report analysing 2024 disclosures from nearly 12,000 companies, finding that reported low-carbon initiatives generated more than US$54 billion in annual savings while highlighting a major gap between transition ambition and funding. Although 72% of disclosing companies report emissions-reduction initiatives, only 11% disclose any capital expenditure aligned to their transition strategies, which CDP frames as a key constraint on scaling credible transition finance. The analysis also maps transition-plan “dependencies” cited by companies, with 94% of firms with transition plans identifying on average at least five categories, most commonly technology (83%), infrastructure (67%), and supportive policy and regulation (67%), positioning these as potential levers for policymakers to unlock investment. On the financing side, 544 financial institutions representing US$145 trillion in assets disclosed through CDP in 2024, with over half using corporate transition-plan data in investment and lending due diligence and around half publishing their own transition plans. The report further notes stronger physical-risk preparedness among companies with transition plans, with 74% assessing both acute and chronic physical risks versus 43% for those without plans, and 56% using physical climate scenarios to guide business strategy.