About us


WHO WE ARE

The Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) is a corporate climate action organization that enables companies and financial institutions worldwide to play their part in combating the climate crisis.

We develop standards, tools and guidance which allow companies to set greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reductions targets in line with what is needed to keep global heating below catastrophic levels and reach net-zero by 2050 at latest.

The SBTi is incorporated as a UK charity, with a subsidiary SBTi Services Limited, which hosts our target validation services (together with SBTi, the “SBTi Group”). Partner organizations who facilitated SBTi’s growth and development are CDP, the United Nations Global Compact, the We Mean Business Coalition, the World Resources Institute (WRI), and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF).

WHAT WE DO

We must urgently increase ambition in the fight against climate change.

The latest climate science sends a clear warning that we must dramatically curb temperature rise to avoid the catastrophic impacts of climate change.

Science-based targets show companies and financial institutions how much and how quickly they need to reduce their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to prevent the worst effects of climate change.

The Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi):

  • Defines and promotes best practice in emissions reductions and net-zero targets in line with climate science.
  • Develops standards, tools and guidance to enable companies and financial institutions to set science-based targets in line with the latest climate science.
  • Through its wholly-owned subsidiary, SBTi Services, assesses and validates companies’ and financial institutions’ targets

By the end of 2023 over 4,000 companies and financial institutions were leading the transition to a net-zero economy by setting emissions reduction targets and having them validated by the SBTi.


Our challenge

The race is on to limit global warming to 1.5°C and prevent the worst effects of climate change.

Through the 2015 Paris Agreement, governments across the world committed to limiting global temperature rise to well-below 2°C above pre-industrial levels and pursuing efforts to limit warming to 1.5°C. In 2018, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) subsequently warned that global warming must not exceed 1.5°C above pre-industrial temperatures to avoid the catastrophic impacts of climate change.

To achieve this, GHG emissions must halve by 2030 – and drop to net-zero by 2050.

Business has a critical role to play in driving down greenhouse gas emissions and building the resilient, thriving zero-emissions economy we urgently need. This action must be grounded in science.

We need a race to the top, led by pioneering companies. This will empower peers, suppliers and customers to follow suit and drive governments to take bolder action.

Our aims

The SBTi mobilizes the private sector to take the lead on urgent climate action.

The SBTi enables companies and financial institutions to understand how much, and how quickly, they must decarbonize to prevent the worst impacts of climate change.

We enable them to tackle global warming.

Action is needed in key sectors, many of which require tailored approaches to setting emission-reduction targets. The SBTi provides clarity and guidance on these journeys, including for the heavy emitting sectors such as buildings, steel, cement, and finance.

More than 1000 companies have been validated inline with the SBTi’s Corporate Net-Zero Standard. This Standard was released in 2021 to ensure that companies’ net-zero targets are consistent with what is required to achieve net-zero no later than 2050.

Our evolution

The SBTi was formed as a collaboration between CDP, the United Nations Global Compact, World Resources Institute (WRI) and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF). In 2023 it was incorporated as a charity in the UK, with a legal Board of Trustees formed of climate leaders to oversee the organization’s governance. The SBTi also incorporated a subsidiary which provides target validation services in line with SBTi standards. The establishment of these entities was designed to allow both arms to scale to meet growing demand, while continuing to drive excellence by supporting organizations in their decarbonisation journeys.

VISION, MISSION AND VALUES

Our vision

By 2050, the world will have transitioned towards a net-zero and equitable economy that serves the needs of the population within the limits of the planet.

Our mission

To drive science-based climate action in the corporate sector consistent with limiting warming to 1.5°C

Our values

The values of accountability, integrity, respect and collaboration govern all aspects of our conduct in the work we do.

  1. Collaboration
    We learn through each other's experiences, knowledge, and participation. We multiply our contribution through collaborative learning and processes. At the SBTi, we firmly believe that our shared goals and mutual support lead to greater success; we are always stronger together.
  2. Respect
    We value our diverse workforce, clients, and other stakeholders and seek and embrace differences as a positive source of learning and a way to enable our impact. unique traits and qualities.
  3. Integrity
    We are courageous enough to do what is right at all times, and we don’t just profess our values; we practice them.
  4. Accountability
    We take our responsibility seriously and own our obligation to explain, justify, and deliver on our commitment to enabling corporations and financial institutions to reduce carbon emissions based on climate science.