The CDP Corporate Health Check 2026 was published in collaboration between CDP and Oliver Wyman. The report reveals where the world’s largest companies stand in their climate and nature commitments and how this performance is reflected in financial outcomes.

Published for the second time, the annual Corporate Health Check examines how companies are not only managing environmental risks but also turning them into tangible financial opportunities. Analysis based on data disclosed to CDP shows that companies with strong environmental performance are making a difference in the business world.

Environmental Leadership Is Increasing

According to the 2026 assessment, 15% of companies reached the “Leadership” level in at least one of the climate, water, or forests themes. By integrating environmental considerations into the core of their business models, these companies are reducing emissions four times faster than their peers.

While climate leadership is the most widespread area (13%), progress is also strengthening in water (11%) and forests (8%). Despite global uncertainty and a volatile policy environment, companies are gaining momentum in environmental performance.

The Financial Outcomes of Environmental Leadership

The report clearly demonstrates that environmental leadership is not limited to risk reduction alone. Companies at the Leadership level captured a total of US$218 billion in environmental opportunities over the past 12 months.

In sectors such as financial services, infrastructure, and apparel, companies with high environmental performance have recorded stronger market capitalization growth since 2022. These findings show that sustainability and financial performance do not exclude one another; on the contrary, they can reinforce each other.

Regional Divergence in Environmental Performance

The 2026 report also highlights widening differences in environmental performance across regions. In this context, 23 companies achieved the highest level, Triple A, by receiving top scores across climate, water, and forests in the CDP assessment. Among the companies achieving Triple A, Türkiye, Japan, and France stand out, with 12% of companies in each country reaching this highest performance level.

Japan stands out globally with a 22% share of companies reaching Leadership level on climate. While Europe continues to perform strongly overall, momentum is building in parts of Asia. Japan is the only country where more than 10% of companies lead across all three themes: climate, water, and forests. In the past year alone, Japanese climate leaders captured US$76 billion in new climate-related opportunities.

What Are Leader Companies Doing?

The report clearly identifies the shared characteristics of environmental leaders:

• Transition plans aligned with 1.5°C

• Strong and accountable governance structures

• Active collaboration with suppliers and customers across the value chain

• Linking executive remuneration to environmental targets

All climate leaders and 78% of water and forest leaders directly tie executive performance to environmental outcomes.

Adaptation: The Next Major Opportunity

Through CDP disclosures, companies identified a total of US$1.47 trillion in physical environmental risks, with more than a quarter of these risks likely to materialize in the near term.

By contrast, physical adaptation investments disclosed in 2025 amounted to US$84.5 billion. This highlights a significant opportunity for companies to enhance resilience while creating long-term value.

Why Environmental Leadership Matters

The CDP Corporate Health Check 2026 shows that climate change and nature loss are no longer distant risks; they are fundamental factors shaping markets, supply chains, and investment decisions. Companies that integrate environmental data into strategic decision-making are able to gain a competitive advantage even in times of uncertainty.

The report underlines that environmental leadership should not be the exception, but the new norm in the business world. Through ambitious targets, strong governance, and measurable performance, it once again demonstrates that balancing sustainability and profitability is possible.

The CDP Corporate Health Check 2026 calls on companies to follow the path of environmental leaders and adopt strategies that will help secure a sustainable future.

Access the full report here.