About Carrots & Sticks

Carrots & Sticks was first published in 2006 to provide a global overview of trends in sustainability reporting and disclosure. The initiative was launched by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in partnership with KPMG International, building on KPMG's regular global survey of corporate sustainability reporting. The Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) and the University of Stellenbosch Business School subsequently joined the initiative.

The first edition in 2006 covered sustainability reporting standards in 19 countries, largely members of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). By 2016, the tenth-anniversary edition covered 71 countries and territories, including the world's 50 largest economies by GDP. By 2020, coverage had expanded to 84 countries.

In April 2023, Carrots & Sticks entered a new phase as an academically led research programme. Dr Adam William Chalmers (University of Edinburgh) and Dr Robyn Klingler-Vidra (King's College London) joined the project as academic co-leads. During this period, coverage expanded significantly to more than 130 countries and over 40 languages, alongside substantial revisions to the database methodology and policy analysis framework. For more on the methodology, see Research Methodology.

In 2026, Carrots & Sticks became an official part of Resonate AI. Resonate AI is a research-driven technology company that uses artificial intelligence to analyse, benchmark, and stress-test sustainability and regulatory disclosures across global policy and corporate reporting frameworks. Integrating Carrots & Sticks into Resonate AI ensures the long-term maintenance, expansion, and analytical development of the database, while preserving its public, freely accessible mission. Learn more about Resonate AI at: https://www.resonateai.co.uk/

Carrots & Sticks is currently led by Adam Chalmers and Tabitha Bailey, who are responsible for the strategic direction, data quality, and ongoing development of the database.