SBTi’s 2026-2030 strategy: From ambition-setter to transformation partner

Over the past decade, the SBTi has established science-based targets as the global benchmark for credible corporate climate action. What began with an ambition to engage 100 companies has grown into a global movement of more than 13,000 companies that have set or committed to setting science-based targets, across sectors and regions.

As corporate climate ambition scales, the challenge is evolving—from setting targets to delivering them. For business leaders, the question is no longer whether to act, but how to deliver in a way that manages transition risk, maintains competitiveness, and creates long-term business value.

To meet this moment, the SBTi is launching its new strategy, setting out how we evolve from ambition-setter to transformation partner—supporting companies not only in setting targets, but in turning them into real-world results. 

Our new operating context

Since our inception, the SBTi has remained steadfast in our belief that companies can and should align their business strategies with climate science. Today, that idea is firmly established—but the context for business has fundamentally changed.

Companies face rising costs, shifting demand, regulatory uncertainty, and growing expectations from investors, customers, and employees. Transition risk is no longer theoretical—it is a core business consideration. Science-based targets have moved from a signal of intent to a powerful leadership tool for managing this risk, strengthening business resilience, accessing capital and markets, and boosting competitiveness.

At the same time, we are hearing a consistent message from businesses: they want clearer pathways, better data, and more actionable guidance to translate that ambition into sustained action. 

What our new strategy means for you

Our new strategy marks a clear shift in the SBTi’s role to meet this demand—we will continue to support businesses in setting science-based targets, while expanding our focus to the business transformation needed to deliver them. 
 
This includes through action-focused, commercially relevant standards, high-quality data and insights, a stronger network of partners, and deeper engagement across regions and high-emitting sectors.

1. Action-focused standards which will enable companies to adopt approaches aligned to their sectors, geographies and operating contexts—helping translate science into practical, commercially relevant action. These standards will be interoperable with other climate standards and frameworks, reducing complexity so companies can focus on delivery.  
2. Focusing on implementation: Building on our success in supporting  thousands of companies to set ambitious emissions reduction targets, we will now pivot toward implementation, with a stronger emphasis on data transparency and system-level assessment of progress and challenges—providing companies with clearer insight into how they compare to peers and where to focus action.
3. Addressing fragmentation: To address fragmentation in the ecosystem—which creates duplication and unnecessary burden for companies—we will strengthen partnerships and ensure more joined-up approaches.
4. Expanding coverage: We will maximize our impact by expanding our emissions coverage through, growing our network in high-emitting regions and sectors.

Working with the SBTi should make your business stronger, not just more credible. We will remain a trusted partner for financial institutions, customers, and regulators—giving companies in our network a real advantage in accessing capital, winning customers, and navigating a demanding regulatory environment.

We will build on this by providing actionable insights on what is working across our network, enabling peer learning, supporting pre-competitive collaboration, and helping to surface systemic barriers that require collective action.

The way forward 

The next five years will be decisive. We look forward to navigating them alongside you—supporting you to build a stronger, more resilient business, and to play your part in achieving the global climate goals we all depend on.