The number of Irish headquartered companies reporting on their carbon emissions rose 11% last year to 31, new figures from CDP Ireland's Climate Change Report for 2019 show.
The report shows that when multinationals with operations in Ireland are included the increase was 7% to reach a total of 274.
CDP is a global non-profit that drives companies and governments to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions, safeguard water resources and protect forests and the CDP Ireland Network represents the CDP's interests here.
Today's report also found that Irish companies achieved a better rating for reducing carbon emissions than the global average of businesses measured last year.
67% of the Irish companies reporting achieved an A or B rating from CDP, compared to the average of 49% from the more than 8,400 companies globally who were reviewed.
Irish listed companies making the top 10 in the report included Kingspan, AIB Group, Kerry, Smurfit Kappa and CRH.
New responders for 2019 included Total Produce, Perrigo and Dublin City University, the first university in the world to report to CDP.
67% of companies reviewed received a B- or higher, an improvement from 63% in 2018 and just 35% in 2017.
Kingspan and Accenture were among two companies in Ireland out of 179 globally to achieve the CDP A List rating.
But 25 companies who were asked to respond to the CDP's Investor questionnaire but did not provide a response.
These included Cairn Homes, Flutter Entertainment, Permanent TSB and Ryanair.
"2019 was a year of heightened focus on climate change, but also a year in which companies in Ireland did more to address these challenges, and have their efforts externally verified," commented Brian O'Kennedy Executive Director of CDP Ireland Network.
Mr O'Kennedy said that CDP Ireland plays a crucial role to increase the transparency of Irish companies on environmental performance and showcase the country as sustainable location to do business.
"We believe that companies who do not engage in the disclosure process offered by CDP will be at a competitive disadvantage given the importance of climate change to their investors, customers and employees," he added.
