SBTi Services launches new service to help companies understand their readiness for the Corporate Net-Zero Standard Version 2.0

Today, SBTi Services has launched the Readiness Assessment Service. The service is available to companies with validated targets under any previous version of the Science Based Targets initiative’s (SBTi) corporate criteria and who are considering the transition to Version 2.0 of the Standard. It is designed to help companies understand where their current targets stand against the new Standard, supporting a smoother transition by identifying the steps they would need to take to achieve validation under Version 2.0.

Built around the data already submitted during a company’s original target validation, the service minimizes the information required upfront—meaning companies can get started quickly, without needing to compile new data. If operations or emissions have changed since the last target validation, companies have the option to submit updated data to ensure the assessment reflects their current position. 

The Corporate Net-Zero Standard V2.0 is the SBTi’s most comprehensive update to the framework to date, providing companies with an expanded toolkit for setting and implementing targets. It is designed to help companies navigate the transition to net-zero with greater clarity and confidence, enabling them to take action, deliver real-economy emissions reductions at scale, and strengthen competitiveness and resilience.

The service is carried out by the SBTi Services Validation Team. As per the new Standard, the service will help companies determine whether they are a category A or category B company, map existing targets onto the scope-specific infrastructure, show companies where they sit within the cyclical validation framework to outline their tailored timelines, and assess whether a company’s current inventory and assurance arrangements meet those requirements across scopes 1, 2, and 3, identifying where data, methodology, or assurance needs to be strengthened to reach validation readiness. 

Companies with targets that are suitable for the service, no matter their size, will be able to book their assessments right away. By doing so, they will be able to get ahead in their efforts to transition to V2.0, which will become the mandatory Standard for all companies to set targets in 2028. The assessment will give a clear, documented overview of how current targets align with the new requirements, improving their submission quality for V2.0 validation, and providing time for executive and investor-level engagement. 

The service encompasses working directly with a dedicated analyst from an onboarding call covering V2.0 requirements and target-setting options, through to a structured review of findings before the final Readiness Assessment Report is delivered. Participation does not constitute pre-validation of targets, does not influence validation outcomes, and does not guarantee successful validation under the new Corporate Net-Zero Standard V2.0. All target validation decisions are made independently through the formal Target Validation process.

The new service is designed to support a smooth transition between Standards, answering any outstanding questions that companies may have about the transition, as they progress through the SBTi framework.

McKenna Smith, Managing Director of SBTi Services, said:

“Ensuring a smooth transition to the Corporate Net-Zero Standard Version 2.0 is a top priority for the SBTi and SBTi Services. With the launch of the Readiness Assessment Service, companies will gain a better understanding of where they stand in the context of the new Standard and what their next steps are. Now is the perfect time for companies to build their capacity and readiness ahead of the Corporate Net-Zero Standard Version 2.0 becoming operational in 2027. Doing so will put them in the position to capitalize on the opportunities the Standard’s innovations present.”