Target services
The SBTi’s target services assess and validate companies’ and financial institutions’ science-based targets.
Companies and financial institutions can use the SBTi’s standards, tools and guidance to set science-based targets. They then submit these targets to the target services team to have them validated.
Small and medium-sized enterprises can use a separate validation route that enables them to bypass the initial stage of committing to set a science-based target and the standard target validation process.
Developing a target usually involves five stages:
Frequently asked questions
When a company submits a target, the SBTi Target Validation Team thoroughly assesses the target to ensure it is conforms with SBTi Criteria and aligned with climate science. If the target is in conformance, it is validated and marked on our Target Dashboard as ‘Targets set’. If it is not in conformance, the SBTi provides feedback to the company to encourage them to re-submit.
To submit your targets for validation, complete the relevant forms clearly, completely and accurately as possible. Missing, unclear or erroneous information will result in the validation process being delayed or rejection of the submission.
- SBTi Corporate Target Submission Form
- FLAG Annex 1
- Steel Annex
- Streamlined target-setting system for SMEs
Upload completed target submission form via the SBTi target booking system and select an available validation start date. Companies should note that validation may begin earlier than the selected booking date.
On or before the booked date, the SBTi will conduct an initial screening to determine if all necessary information is provided and to assess if the target meets a few basic criteria. After this step is complete, the SBTi will send the validation service contract, which must be signed before the target validation results will be delivered. Section 3 of the target validation protocol provides an overview of each step of the target validation process.
After sending a commitment letter, organizations have 24 months to submit their target.
As part of the target submission, companies book a date in the future for their target review to begin. From this date the SBTi will begin to validate the target and communicate it's decision within 30 business days for Near Term targets, 60 business days for Financial Institutions, and 60 business days for Net Zero targets
The dates listed above assume that the company passes it's initial screening which ensures basic criteria are met, signs the target validation service contract, and responds to queries from their assigned target analyst within 2 business days.
In order to ensure that we can deliver the target validation service to a high-standard while also continually making improvements to this service, the SBTi charges companies a cost-recovery fee. As a non-profit organization, target validations are priced accordingly, minimizing entry barriers to the initiative while allowing us to deliver a quality service.
The fees for target validations are set according to financial analysis to ensure financial sustainability and the long-term viability of target validation services. Companies are welcome to apply for fee discounts according to their needs. Any profits that could result from target validation services will go to the SBTi’s charitable arm. Where prices differ between services, this reflects the amount of time and complexity required to validate those targets.
Please note we have updated our pricing from 1st August 2024, see the link below.
The services provided by the SBTi occur at three key steps of the target validation process:
1. The SBTi provides an initial screening to determine that the applicable Target Submission Form submitted by the business is complete.
2. Based on the Target Submissions Form, the SBTi then completes an assessment of the target(s) submitted by the business.
3. Finally, based on the results of the assessment, the SBTi will provide either a target validation report and letter for validated targets, or a decision letter with feedback for rejected targets. The results of the assessment are shared within 30-60 business days, depending on the selected validation service.*
*In order to complete the assessment within 30-60 business days, companies must respond to any queries for further information or clarification sent by the validation team within two business days.
It is important to note that target validation services do not include:
1. Choosing which target setting method is most appropriate or relevant for the company. This depends on each company's business and activities, and must be selected by the business submitting targets.
2. Assistance with emission factors and calculation of emissions across scopes.
Corporations that are headquartered in developing countries and economies in transition, as defined by the United Nations Secretariat's Department of Economic and Social Affairs, can apply for fee discounts, according to their need. Companies may request a fee discount as part of the target submission application.
If targets are not approved, the company will receive a private email indicating the decision. We will not publicly communicate the fact that a company's target was not approved.
Companies are encouraged to incorporate SBTi feedback and resubmit targets for validation as soon as they are able. For more information on the target validation process, consult our Procedure for Validation of SBTi Targets.
From January 31, 2023, if a company's commitment expires and it has no targets awaiting validation following an unsuccessful submission, the commitment will be listed as 'Removed' on the SBTi Target Dashboard as outlined in our Commitment Compliance Policy.
In late 2023 the SBTi incorporated a subsidiary which will, when fully operational, house its target validation services, with all profits donated to the charity.
By creating a separate entity for target validation services, the SBTi is adopting the recognized best practice for assurance bodies, which is designed to safeguard impartiality.
To find out how the SBTi enables objectivity and independence in the validation of company targets, read our conflict of interest statement.
Companies that are submitting targets for the first time are encouraged to set the most recent year with available data as the base year. If a company has more detailed data for a previous year, this is acceptable for the validation purposes as long as a most recent year data is also submitted to be assessed for ambition.
Treating the data we receive from companies as confidential enables us to access more detailed information than what is available publicly and make a more accurate assessment of a company’s science-based target.
When submitting a target, the company is required to fill the SBTi Target Submission Form, which provides the minimum information for conducting the assessment of the target for validation.
No, target validation slots cannot be booked speculatively. A completed and accurate target submission form must be provided at the time of booking in order to secure a validation slot. As the SBTi continually increases capacity, validation slots will be moved forward when available and therefore all information needs to be complete at the time of booking.
Once a business has submitted a completed submission form and booked a target validation slot, they are welcome to communicate that they have submitted a target to the SBTi for approval. For other guidance on communications at various stages of the SBTi journey, please see the SBTi communications guide for companies and financial institutions taking action.
Approved company commitments and targets are shown on our website Target Dashboard and accompanying data download file. The target wording and publication date are agreed by the company with the SBTi.
The SBTi safeguards other information provided by the company to assess its targets in accordance with the target validation service contract, which companies review and sign before the target validation process begins.
The SBTi publishes information about companies and their targets and commitments on our website.
The following information is published after a commitment is made:
1. Company name
2. ISIN
3. LEI
4. Headquartered region and location
5. Sector
6. Commitment type
7. Commitment status
8. Commitment deadline
9. Reason for commitment extension or removal
10. Commitment publication date
The following information is added once a target is approved:
11. Full target language
12. Target type, scopes covered, base year, target year and target value
12. Company temperature alignment
13. Target publication date
The SBTi has a streamlined route for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), defined as a non-subsidiary, independent company which employs fewer than 250 employees and is not a Financial Institution (FI) or Oil & Gas (O&G) company.
Effective January 1st, 2024, the SBTi has updated the definition of an SME. You can find more information in our announcement.
This pathway enables SMEs to bypass the initial stages of committing to set a science-based target and the standard target validation process. SMEs can immediately set a science-based target for their scope 1 and 2 emissions by choosing from one of several predefined target options. Unlike larger companies, the SBTi does not require SMEs to set targets for their scope 3 emissions; however, SMEs must commit to measure and reduce their scope 3 emissions.
The SBTi introduced this expedited option for SMEs because smaller companies often lack the resources and capabilities needed to set scope 3 targets and monitor progress against them. The SBTi’s speedy and simplified approach for SMEs balances the need for them to take account of emissions across their value chains without imposing too great a burden on them.
However, from November 1st 2023, companies classified/qualified as SMEs will be granted the option to submit targets via the standard target validation route for corporates, and contribute to scaling the impact of robust science-based targets globally.
Like larger companies using our standard target validation route, SMEs are required to complete a recent, comprehensive greenhouse gas emissions inventory following the Greenhouse Gas Protocol Corporate Accounting and Reporting Standard and Scope 2 Guidance. They are required to publicly report their company-wide scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions inventory and progress against published targets on an annual basis.
Smaller SMEs (<150 employees) in the earlier stages of developing their emissions inventory can use the tools provided by the SME Climate Hub to support the measurement and reporting of emissions.
The SBTi also has a streamlined route net-zero target setting for SMEs, which does include commitments on scope 3 target setting and reduction. SMEs aiming to establish net-zero targets need to submit their Scope 3 emissions accounting adhering to the Scope 3 Calculation Guidance.
Targets submitted through the dedicated route for SMEs will be approved and posted to the SBTi website pending due diligence review and payment. Companies will be sent a communications welcome pack and will be able to use the SBTi logo on their website and in company communications.
If you still have an outstanding question reach out to smes@sciencebasedtargets.org.
You first need to submit your targets for validation in our booking system and select an available validation date. Companies should note that their booking date is the latest that their target validation will begin.
On or before the booked date, the SBTi will conduct an initial screening to determine if all necessary information is provided and to assess if the target meets a few basic criteria. After this step is complete, the SBTi will send the validation service Terms & Conditions, for you to fill in, sign and send back to us. At this time, we can start any vendor setup process your company might need.
Please note we cannot support changes or additions to the T&Cs since they have been tailored specifically for the type of service we provide.
The SBTi released updated versions of its Corporate Net-Zero Standard (V1.2) and Corporate Near-Term Criteria (V5.2) in March 2024. These updates are classified as non-substantive or minor revisions, this means that they do not significantly impact the manner in which entities conform with the standard.
Minor/non-substantive revisions do not impact validation decisions and/or processes compared to the previous version(s). This means companies that prepared targets for submission using Corporate Net-Zero Standard V1.1 or Corporate Near-Term Criteria V5.1 will not need to prepare submission materials again for their target submissions.
You can read more about the changes made as part of this minor update here, where you can also find the Main Changes document.
Get started on your target-setting journey.
