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Science Based Targets initiative

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Science Based Targets initiative
AbbreviationSBTi
Formation2015; 11 years ago (2015)[1]
FounderCDP
United Nations Global Compact
World Resources Institute
World Wide Fund for Nature[1]
TypeCharity and limited company[2]
Registration no.1205768
14960097[3]
Legal statusActive
HeadquartersLondon, United Kingdom[3]
Region served
Worldwide
ProductsStandards
Tools
Guidance
ServicesScience-based target validation[4]
FieldsClimate change mitigation
Corporate sustainability
Official language
English
David Kennedy[5]
Chair of the Board of Trustees
Francesco Starace[2]
Board of Trustees[2]
SubsidiariesSBTi Services Limited
SBTi gGmbH[2]
AffiliationsISEAL Alliance[6]
Staff200 (2025)
Websitesciencebasedtargets.org

The Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) is a global initiative to combat climate change, aimed specifically at assisting companies with setting science-based targets to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions in line with the goals of the Paris Agreement

It is a collaboration between its founding partners, namely the CDP, the United Nations Global Compact, the World Resources Institute (WRI), the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), and the We Mean Business Coalition.[7]

As of 2025, over 10,000 companies have set or committed to setting science-based climate targets validated by the SBTi.[8]

Organization

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The Science Based Targets initiative was established in 2015[9] to help companies to set emission reduction targets in line with climate science[10] and Paris Agreement goals.[11] It is funded by IKEA Foundation, Amazon, Bezos Earth Fund, We Mean Business coalition, Rockefeller Brothers Fund and UPS Foundation.[12]

In October 2021, SBTi developed and launched the world's first net zero standard, providing the framework and tools for companies to set science-based net zero targets and limit global temperature rise above pre-industrial levels to 1.5 °C.[13][14]

Best practice as identified by SBTi is for companies to adopt transition plans covering scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions, set out short-term milestones, ensure effective board-level governance and link executive compensation to the company's adopted milestones.[9]

SBTi is a UK charity with a commercial subsidiary, SBTi Services, which offers to validate climate targets set by companies as science-based targets for a fee.

As of 2025, SBTi operates without a central office and has 200 staff who primarily work remotely, including part-time employees. This has led to challenges in meeting the demands of a growing client base of companies seeking SBTi validation for climate targets.[8]

Sector-specific guidance

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SBTi developed separate sector-specific methodologies, frameworks and requirements for different industries. As of September 2024, sector guidance[15] is available for:

Carbon offsets controversy

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In April 2024 the SBTi Board of Trustees released a statement[17] setting out an intention to permit the use of environmental attribute certificates (EACs) for abatement purposes against Scope 3 emissions reduction targets. SBTi did not previously permit the use of EACs due to the difficulties faced in tracing, measuring and validating their impact.[18]

The Bezos Earth Fund, a major funder of the SBTi, exerted influence on SBTi board members to relax the organization's position on carbon offsets.[19][20][21] The statement led to a response letter[22] signed by various teams within the SBTi and media speculation about the policy change. The counter argument set out in the response being that carbon offsets are incompatible with the Paris Agreement.[23]

Launched in September 2022, the SBTi's Forestry, Land and Agriculture (FLAG) guidance[24] allows companies to claim the achievement of their emission reduction targets through ‘insetting’, breaking from the long-held SBTi position that emission reduction targets should only be achieved through emission reductions.[25] Insetting is a business-driven concept and not a term defined in international standards and guidelines such as ISO 14050 Environmental Vocabulary and IWA 42 Net Zero Guidelines.[26]

On 2 July 2024, CEO Luiz Amaral announced that he would step down for personal reasons.[27] In January 2025, David Kennedy was announced as the new CEO.[8][28]

See also

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References

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  1. 1 2 "Our 2026–2030 strategy: Catalyzing corporate action". Science Based Targets initiative. 2026. Retrieved 27 August 2026.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Organizational governance". Science Based Targets initiative. Retrieved 27 August 2026.
  3. 1 2 "Corporate Net-Zero Standard V2.0" (PDF). Science Based Targets initiative. June 2026. Retrieved 27 August 2026.
  4. ↑ Cite error: The named reference SBTi About was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ↑ "SBTi appoints David Kennedy as CEO". Science Based Targets initiative. 7 January 2025. Retrieved 27 August 2026.
  6. ↑ "SBTi reinforces governance with ISEAL Community Membership and opens a call for new Technical Council members". Science Based Targets initiative. 15 January 2026. Retrieved 27 August 2026.
  7. ↑ Science Based Targets, Partner organizations, accessed 2 December 2021
  8. 1 2 3 "It's the Most Important Name in Sustainability. It's Battling for Its Survival". The Wall Street Journal. 23 December 2024.
  9. 1 2 Real Sustainability, Science Based Targets for Financial Institutions, accessed 2 December 2021
  10. ↑ "Set Science-Based Emission Reduction Targets".
  11. ↑ "Lead the way to a low-carbon future".
  12. ↑ "Funders".
  13. ↑ "SBTi Launches World-First Net-Zero Corporate Standard".
  14. ↑ "For corporate net zero targets, focus on the big picture".
  15. ↑ "Sector-specific projects". sciencebasedtargets.org. Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi).
  16. ↑ "Global oil and gas emissions standard put on pause after Shell, others walk away, FT says". Reuters. 23 July 2025. Retrieved 26 July 2025.
  17. ↑ "Statement from the SBTi Board of Trustees on use of environmental attribute certificates, including but not limited to voluntary carbon markets, for abatement purposes limited to scope 3". Science Based Targets initiative. 9 April 2024. Retrieved 18 April 2024.
  18. ↑ Greenfield, Patrick (18 January 2023). "Revealed: more than 90% of rainforest carbon offsets by biggest certifier are worthless, analysis shows". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 18 April 2024.
  19. ↑ Suppan, Steve. "Science Based Targets Initiative board undermines integrity of its corporate climate standard". iatp.org. The Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy (IATP). Retrieved 22 April 2024.
  20. ↑ Neuro, Benzinga. "Jeff Bezos's Earth Fund Under Scrutiny For Potential Influence On Carbon Credit Market Amid Amazon's Expanding Climate Initiatives - Amazon.com (NASDAQ:AMZN)". Benzinga. Retrieved 2 September 2024.
  21. ↑ Bryan, Kenza (1 September 2024). "Amazon and Bezos fund's influence over carbon credit market raises alarm". Financial Times. Retrieved 11 December 2024.
  22. ↑ "Read the leaked protest letter from SBTi staff angry over new carbon offset policy | GreenBiz". www.greenbiz.com. 11 April 2024. Retrieved 18 April 2024.
  23. ↑ Cullenward, Danny; Badgley, Grayson; Chay, Freya (15 September 2023). "Carbon offsets are incompatible with the Paris Agreement". One Earth. 6 (9): 1085–1088. doi:10.1016/j.oneear.2023.08.014.
  24. ↑ "Forests, Land and Agriculture". Science Based Targets. Retrieved 23 April 2024.
  25. ↑ "Corporate Climate Responsibility Monitor 2023". newclimate.org. The New Climate Institute.
  26. ↑ "Net Zero Guidelines". iso.org. International Organization for Standardization.
  27. ↑ Science Based Targets initiative (2 July 2024). "Luiz Amaral to step down as CEO of Science Based Targets initiative". Science Based Targets initiative. Retrieved 3 July 2024.
  28. ↑ George, Sarah (7 January 2025). "SBTi chooses former CCC boss as new chief executive". Edie. Retrieved 9 January 2025.
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