Disclosure Quality · Tool 01 theclimateclerk.com CDP-Referenced Rubric
The Climate Clerk
// Tool 01 · Disclosure Quality

Transition Plan
Benchmarker

A practitioner rubric for assessing corporate climate transition plans against CDP Technical Note standards. Copy the prompt, paste it into any AI alongside the PDF — get a structured PASS / PARTIAL / MISSING scorecard in minutes. No account needed. No data sent anywhere.

1
Copy the prompt

Hit the copy button below. The full 26-criteria rubric with scoring logic is embedded in the prompt text.

2
Upload both files + paste the prompt

Open ChatGPT, Claude, or Gemini. Upload the transition plan PDF and the Rubric PDF together. Paste the prompt in the same message.

3
Review the scorecard

The AI returns scores across all 26 criteria with evidence and gaps. Apply your expert judgment before any formal use.

// Prompt 01 · Recommended
Full 26-criteria assessment
The complete rubric. Works best with GPT-4o, Claude Sonnet, or Gemini 1.5 Pro. Upload the full transition plan PDF alongside this prompt.
You are an investor-grade CDP-aligned climate transition plan assessor. INPUTS: 1. The uploaded transition plan PDF 2. The uploaded Rubric PDF (CDP_TP_Rubric_LLM.pdf) — OR — the uploaded Rubric Excel (CDP_Transition_Rubric.xlsx) TASK: Assess the transition plan strictly against the 26 criteria in the rubric. EVALUATION RULES: - PASS requires meeting the full "WHAT PASS LOOKS LIKE" definition - If QUANT_REQUIRED = YES and no numerical disclosure is present → downgrade to PARTIAL - If FIN_LINK_REQUIRED = YES and no financial linkage is disclosed → downgrade to PARTIAL - If modelling assumptions are required but not explicitly disclosed → MISSING - Do not infer beyond explicit disclosure - Narrative-only statements where quantification is required must not receive PASS FOR EACH CRITERION RETURN: check_id | category | status (PASS / PARTIAL / MISSING) evidence_quote (max 25 words, verbatim quote from document only) evidence_location (page number if visible; otherwise section heading) gap_explanation (1 concise sentence explaining the status) improvement_recommendation (1–2 concise bullet points; do not invent data) STRICT RULES: - If you cannot quote evidence directly from the document → status must be MISSING - PASS requires at least one direct evidence_quote - Do NOT invent numbers, commitments, governance structures, or financial data - Apply the credibility_test logic defined in the rubric when evaluating each criterion - Base judgment strictly on the rubric definitions - Keep explanations concise and factual - Assess per criterion only — do not summarize the whole document OUTPUT FORMAT: Return results as a CSV table with this exact header row: check_id,category,status,evidence_quote,evidence_location,gap_explanation,improvement_recommendation
// Reference · All 26 Criteria
PASS · PARTIAL · MISSING definitions
What each score means per criterion. On mobile, download the PDF for the full definitions.
IDCriterionPass looks likePartial looks likeMissing looks like
Governance
TP-01 Board oversight of transition plan Board has defined oversight role + frequency + responsibilities Oversight mentioned but vague No governance structure described
TP-06 Executive accountability defined Named executive responsible with mandate and reporting line disclosed Accountability implied but not clearly assigned No executive accountability defined
TP-07 Incentives linked to climate objectives Executive remuneration includes quantified climate KPI AND weighting disclosed Climate KPIs mentioned but not tied to incentives No incentive linkage described
Strategy
TP-02 Transition ambition clearly defined Explicit long-term ambition with scope coverage AND residual emissions treatment defined Ambition stated but scope coverage unclear No defined long-term ambition
TP-08 Transition plan integrated into business strategy Evidence of integration into capital planning OR strategic decision processes Mentioned but not clearly integrated Treated as standalone sustainability narrative
TP-09 Clear short, medium, and long-term milestones Defined milestones across multiple time horizons with dates Timeframes mentioned but incomplete No time horizon structure
Targets
TP-03 Targets quantified with base year and target year Scope + % reduction + base year + target year all clearly stated One or more required elements missing Target vague or narrative-only
TP-10 Scope coverage clearly stated All material Scope 1, 2 and relevant Scope 3 categories explicitly covered Some scopes mentioned but incomplete Scope coverage unclear
TP-11 Interim targets defined Interim milestones between base year and 2030 disclosed Only long-term target stated No interim targets
TP-12 Assumptions underlying targets disclosed Growth, demand, grid, technology and boundary assumptions disclosed Assumptions referenced but not detailed No assumptions described
Financial planning
TP-04 Capex aligned with decarbonization levers % of total CapEx aligned OR quantified investment magnitude disclosed Investment mentioned but not quantified No capital alignment described
TP-17 Financial risks and opportunities quantified Transition-related financial impacts quantified in monetary terms Financial impact referenced but not quantified No financial impact discussion
TP-18 Capital allocation process explained Formal governance process for approving transition investments described Process mentioned but unclear No capital decision framework
TP-26 Total cost of transition disclosed Estimated cumulative investment required to reach target disclosed Investment referenced but no total estimate No disclosure of cost of transition
Risk
TP-05 Transition risks identified and mitigated Key transition risks listed with mitigation actions and ownership Risks mentioned without mitigation No risk discussion
TP-19 Sensitivity / scenario analysis disclosed 1.5°C-aligned scenario analysis AND sensitivity analysis disclosed Scenario mentioned but not analyzed No scenario analysis
TP-23 Transition risks prioritized Risks ranked or prioritized by likelihood and impact Risks listed but not prioritized No prioritization approach
Decarbonization levers
TP-13 Key abatement levers identified Major emissions drivers mapped to specific decarbonization levers Levers mentioned but not linked to emissions sources No structured lever breakdown
TP-14 Quantification of lever impact Each major lever includes estimated emission contribution Some quantification but incomplete No quantification of levers
Value chain
TP-15 Scope 3 engagement strategy described Supplier/customer engagement plan with measurable coverage (e.g. % spend) Engagement mentioned but vague No value chain engagement described
TP-16 Policy engagement alignment Public policy positions aligned AND trade association review disclosed Policy stance unclear or neutral No policy engagement discussion
Metrics & monitoring
TP-20 KPIs defined for tracking progress Specific metrics defined with reporting cadence and ownership Metrics mentioned but no cadence No monitoring framework
TP-21 Data governance described Data ownership, validation, internal controls disclosed Governance mentioned but vague No data governance structure
Accountability
TP-22 Public disclosure commitment stated Commitment to regular, transparent disclosure with frequency defined Disclosure mentioned but irregular No disclosure commitment
Just transition
TP-24 Workforce and social considerations addressed Workforce impacts, reskilling plans and measurable commitments disclosed Workforce mentioned briefly No social dimension discussed
Credibility
TP-25 External assurance or validation referenced Independent review, SBTi validation OR third-party assurance clearly scoped Validation referenced but unclear scope No validation or assurance referenced