During the third UBC TALKS webinar, we discussed about the possible benefits, obstacles and motivation for CDP disclosure. The city representatives shared their concrete tips for starting the disclosure in 2020 for UBC cities that have not yet disclosed to CDP platform. Since two of the three UBC cities presenting had achieved the score A, there is a lot to learn from their experiences. We encourage any city interested in getting started with disclosure to CDP to contact one of the cities who presented during the UBC TALKS.
The cities reported on the main obstacles and barriers. Some of them included lack of resources, finding the right type of data to disclose and ensuring the awareness of the public and the politicians.
Here are some of the key tips that cities of Lahti, Riga and Tartu would like to share with other cities in the Union of the Baltic Cities starting or continuing their CDP disclosure in 2020. Also, some tips from CDP have been involved!
1. Try to use a systemic approach for data collection and reporting
Riga: Try to establish a separate folder where you can collect the data that you will need for disclosure throughout the year so that you would be prepared when the disclosure starts, Step by step, try to work a little during the whole year and it will help you to be more successful during the three months of preparing and reporting. (P.S. Check out
)2. Be as public as possible, share information and engage the private sector
Tartu: Be as public as possible. Involving the private sector as early as possible, it will make getting the right data a lot easier in the long run.
3. Involve politicians - get the political commitment
Lahti: Get political decision ensuring that your city will report to CDP - it will give a backbone to the action.
4. You do not have to be perfect for the first time!
Lahti & CDP: No one expects during the first time a city reports they would be able to have answers to 100% of the questions. CDP disclosure is a journey and that is the way the scoring system has been built up to recognise that you start with the fact of disclosing at all and then moving forward from there.
5. Talk to and involve colleagues outside environmental and energy departments!
CDP: It would be vital to involve colleagues who normally do not work with climate change-related issues in their daily work and to encourage them to give their input to data collection and to ensure a common understanding towards the journey to low carbon economy.
Listen to the full Q&A session including the discussions between CDP and the three UBC cities here if you would like to know more.