The Northern Ireland Local Government Officers' Superannuation Committee, along with 275 other global financial institutions, is requesting environmental impact data from almost 2,000 high-impact companies. 

The local government scheme is backing the 2024 campaign by non-profit organisation the Carbon Disclosure Project. It means between June and September 2024, lead participants and co-signers of the group will engage with 1,998 targeted companies – up from 1,590 last year – to demand disclosure of their environmental impact data. 

“NILGOSC, alongside the 275 other supporters, believe that increased corporate transparency in environmental reporting is key to making informed investments for a sustainable future,” the scheme said. 

The campaign backed by investors representing over $21tn (£16tn) specifically targets companies that have not previously reported environmental data through CDP. These will be urged to report data on their climate change, forests and/or water impacts through a questionnaire. 

Once the disclosure period has passed, the disclosures will be analysed by CDP and results shared with participants.  

Of the nearly 2,000 companies requested to disclose data, 1,029 were asked to report specifically on their water-related impacts and risks, including tech companies and airlines, marking a 122% increase on the number targeted last year. In addition, the campaign aims to improve data availability on climate and forests, with 1,329 companies asked for disclosures on climate and 373 on forests. 

The firms targeted are collectively responsible for emissions equivalent to those of India, Brazil, Germany and the UK combined, according to CDP.

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