Forest, Land and Agriculture (FLAG)

Is your company in a land-intensive sector? Explore our key resources and set Forest, Land and Agriculture (FLAG) climate targets to reduce land-based emissions and enhance carbon removals in line with science.

Have your say: Urgent updates to FLAG Criteria updates

As part of its ongoing review of Standards and Guidance, the SBTi has identified two FLAG Criteria (1 and 4) that require urgent updates to remain viable while maintaining ambition and alignment with evolving frameworks. 

We invite stakeholders to join our 30-day public consultation and provide feedback on five proposed updates by November 6, 2025 (11:59 PM PT):

  1. Implementation timelines (Criterion 1): A requirement for companies in this sector that have already set non-FLAG targets to set a FLAG target before the end of their mandatory five-year review period, rather than within 6 months of the GHG Protocol Land Sector and Removals Guidance publication.
  2. Deforestation target date (Criterion 4): A proposed new target date so companies setting FLAG targets for the first time would have up to two years after submitting their FLAG targets for validation to eliminate deforestation, with an absolute deadline of December 31, 2030. This proposal has been made to address the 2025 deadline passing, and the ongoing urgency to halt deforestation.
  3. Deforestation cutoff date (Criterion 4): A requirement that companies use a deforestation cutoff date that precedes the submission of its first FLAG targets for validation, as opposed to a recommendation that the cutoff date be 2020 or earlier.
  4. Commodity scope (Criterion 4): An updated list of commodities covered under no-deforestation commitments to align with the European Union Deforestation Regulation.
  5. Documentation requirements (Criterion 4): A clarification to the documentation companies will be required to publish to demonstrate how they will deliver their no-deforestation commitments.

These updates focus on improving clarity and consistency for companies to set practical, ambitious science-based targets, accelerating decarbonization across the sector. 

How to participate

The consultation is open until November 6th, 2025 (11:59PM PT).

More information is available in the project Terms of Reference.

Once published, the updated Criteria will be effective immediately for all companies setting new FLAG targets. Existing FLAG targets, including no-deforestation commitments, will remain valid. Companies with validated FLAG targets will also have the option to update their commitments to align with the revised Criteria. 

Guidance for land-intensive sectors

Businesses with land-based emissions are encouraged to take science-based climate action now by setting FLAG targets to cut emissions and enhance carbon sinks. Our guidance, tools and resources can help you preserve the land on which your business depends:

The next few years are critical in the fight against climate change. By setting science-based targets in line with the SBTi FLAG Guidance and defining appropriate decarbonization strategies, businesses can drive a nature-positive future, where ecosystems thrive and play a critical role in tackling climate change.

Why take action?

The FLAG sector is one of the most affected by the impacts of climate change. But it is also a significant source of emissions. It represents 22% of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions - the third highest emitting sector after energy and industry.

To prevent the catastrophic impacts of climate change, tackle food crisis risks and enable the transformation to a global net-zero future, cutting land related emissions is paramount.

 

Key requirements of the SBTi FLAG Guidance

  1. Account for land-based emissions and removals: Include emissions from deforestation, land conversion, and business activities associated with the use of land (e.g. fertilizers, manure management, forest harvesting, etc.), as well as biogenic CO2 removals like restoring natural ecosystems, improving forest management, deploying silvopasture, and enhancing soil carbon sequestration on pasture and farmland. Read more on how FLAG pathways address carbon removals.
  2. Set near-term FLAG science-based targets: 5-10 year emissions reduction targets in line with climate science.
  3. Set long-term FLAG science-based targets: Use the SBTi Corporate Net-Zero Standard to set targets to reduce at least 72% of emissions by no later than 2050.
  4. Set a no-deforestation commitment with a target date no later than 2025: In line with the Accountability Framework initiative (AFi). This commitment is mandatory, without it, companies cannot set a FLAG target. Read more on this commitment and how this guidance accounts for land-use change emissions.
  5. Set science-based targets for energy/industry emissions: In addition to FLAG targets, set energy/industry targets covering all scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions.

When setting targets, companies in food production, food and beverage processing, food and staples retailing and tobacco are required to set FLAG science-based targets. This requirement also applies to companies in any other sector if FLAG-related emissions exceed 20% of their total scopes 1, 2, and 3 emissions.

WATCH: Introducing the FLAG guidance - Martha Stevenson

The SBTi's wholly-owned subsidiary, SBTi Services, checks and validates the science-based targets of corporates, financial institutions, and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

By validating your targets with SBTi Services you will:

  • Demonstrate that your climate goals are robust and credible to investors and customers.
  • Ensure your targets for reducing emissions are aligned with the latest climate science.
  • Gain reassurance that your goals will remain relevant in the near- and long-term through re-validation by SBTi Services following mandatory target recalculation.

So what are you waiting for? Visit the SBTi Services website to get started today!
 

  • Project launch: This project started in February 2020.
  • Public consultation: In 2022, a month-long public consultation was conducted for experts in the FLAG sector to provide feedback on the draft SBTi FLAG Guidance and Tool. We received over 1,600 comments from more than 165 organizations. Read the public consultation summary report. Acknowledging those comments we moved forward with the final version of the guidance and tool.
  • Final publication: We launched the SBTi FLAG Guidance and Tool in September 2022. From May 1st, 2023, companies are required to account for their land-based emissions and set separate FLAG targets if relevant to their activities. Read more on the FLAG project implementation timelines.
  • Updates: In December 2023, the SBTi released a minor revision of the FLAG Guidance to facilitate understanding of the target-setting process. Learn more about these updates. That same year, the use of the timber and wood fiber pathway, included in the FLAG Target-Setting Tool, was temporarily paused.

The SBTi FLAG Project was developed by the SBTi with support from WWF. We convened technical experts from the agriculture, forestry and other land use (AFOLU) sector and a corporate consultative group that provided expert advice throughout the project.
 

  • Consultative Group: This group consisted of individuals from the following organizations:
  • AB InBev
  • Arauco
  • Cargill
  • Danone
  • General Mills
  • IKEA
  • International Paper
  • Kimberly-Clark
  • Klabin
  • Mars
  • McDonald's
  • Nestlé
  • P&G
  • PepsiCo
  • RCL Foods
  • Sodexo
  • Tyson
  • Walmart
  • General stakeholder consultation. Both industry and non-industry representatives provided feedback on each project component through public consultation.

Funding for this project was provided by the Gordon & Betty Moore Foundation.

Resources for setting FLAG science-based targets

FLAG Guidance launch

Public consultation resources

2025

2022

FLAG project kick-off resources
 

The SBTi is temporarily suspending the use of the timber and wood fiber pathway included in the FLAG Target-Setting Tool. This temporary pause will be in place until the SBTi releases a revised version of the pathway.


See our suspension paper for more information and check if your company is affected.


Suspension paper change log


  • 02/10/2024 - suspension paper update published

  • 14/12/2023 - suspension paper published

We are revising the timber and wood fiber pathway, included in the FLAG Target-Setting Tool, to develop a robust, science-based methodology that  will help companies in the forest and paper products sector, as well as those reliant on wood-derived products, to set ambitious science-based targets to reduce land-based emissions from forestry production. This update will refine near-term target setting, and introduce a new long-term target-setting method. 

Key milestones and the overall plan are outlined in the project Terms of Reference (TOR) and summary.

The project is being developed by the SBTi, with support from Carbone 4 as the technical partner. Stakeholder involvement is possible via the following groups:

Expert working group (EWG): Composed of volunteer experts from a diverse range of stakeholder organizations will provide technical advice to support the project’s outputs. Read the EWG TOR. The SBTi Timber and Wood Fiber Pathway Revision Project EWG consists of the following individuals:

  • Asger Olesen - Moja Global
  • Branden Beatty - West Fraser  
  • Chandra Shekhar Deshmukh - APRIL  
  • Chidiebere Ofoegbu - Teesside University, Middlesbrough  
  • Christa Anderson - WWF  
  • Cleo Orfanidou - European Forest Institute (EFI)
  • Fabiana Philipi - WayCarbon  
  • Guillermo Olmedo - Arauco  
  • Hanna Fiegenbaum - WoodenValley gGmbH  
  • Ilkka Leinonen - Natural Resources Institute Finland  
  • Johannes Svensson - Basque Centre for Climate Change (BC3)
  • Nathan Truitt - American Forest Foundation  
  • Oliver James - GHG Protocol, World Resources Institute (WRI)
  • Pauline Owiti - Climate Clock  
  • Sarita Severien - SUZANO  
  • Sevda Alanya Rosenbaum - John Beath Environmental  
  • Terry Campbell - Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) International  
  • Yiwei Ding - IKEA
     

Note that the composition of the EWG may change over time and this list will be updated accordingly. EWG members volunteer in a personal capacity to provide technical advice over the duration of the project. While their expertise helps guide the development process, final content decisions rests solely with the SBTi. As a result, the final output does not necessarily represent or imply endorsement by individual EWG members or their employers.

Stakeholder consultation: Industry and non-industry representatives will be able to provide feedback during the public consultation and pilot phases.

These opportunities will be promoted on the SBTi website, newsletter and social media platforms. 

The project is being developed in adherence with the Standard Operating Procedure for Development of SBTi Standards. 

For general questions or clarifications on the FLAG Project’s resources, email FLAG@sciencebasedtargets.org. For all other questions, please contact info@sciencebasedtargets.org.


Join the FLAG mailing list for updates on the guidance and future developments.


To provide feedback on SBTi FLAG resources or the Timber and Wood Fiber Pathway Revision Project, use this form.

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