The Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) announced a major strategic shift on Thursday, signaling its intention to expand its role within the corporate climate action landscape. Moving beyond its traditional position as a climate “ambition-setter,” the organization now aims to become a broader corporate “transformation partner.”
The transition forms a key part of SBTi’s 2026–2030 strategy, which emphasizes the development of interoperable, sector-specific guidance tailored to companies across industries and regions. The strategy also includes enhanced data collection, benchmarking, and progress tracking capabilities for both companies and the wider public.
“The world has changed significantly since the SBTi was established ten years ago,” the organization stated in its strategy document. “Business as usual is not an option. This strategy marks a clear shift as we enter a second phase focused on enabling the corporate net-zero transition.”
According to SBTi, more than 13,000 companies worldwide have either set or committed to setting science-based climate targets, including nearly 11,000 organizations with approved near-term emissions reduction targets. Founded in 2015 by CDP, the United Nations Global Compact, the World Resources Institute (WRI), the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), and the We Mean Business Coalition, SBTi became an independent organization in 2023.
The organization’s strategy for the remainder of the decade outlines four major operational priorities:
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Transitioning from broad, generalized target-setting guidance to more tailored, sector-specific approaches
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Increasing emphasis on the implementation of climate targets
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Expanding engagement across high-emitting sectors and regions
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Strengthening partnerships to reduce fragmentation, duplication, and reporting burdens
SBTi noted that its previous standards, including the original Corporate Net-Zero Standard, were largely based on global emissions pathways aligned with achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. However, the organization acknowledged that this approach may become less effective over time, as decarbonization pathways differ significantly depending on technology availability, feasibility, and implementation costs across sectors and geographies.
Under its updated approach, SBTi plans to provide companies with flexible “menus of options” that reflect varying business contexts while ensuring alignment with the global objective of limiting temperature rise to 1.5°C. The organization stated that economy-wide modeling would continue to ensure scientific credibility and alignment with international climate goals.
SBTi is currently developing Version 2 of its Corporate Net-Zero Standard, which will further detail this new target-setting methodology. The updated framework is also expected to align with sector-specific standards, the GHG Protocol, and emerging standards from the International Organization for Standardization (ISO).
To strengthen its focus on implementation, SBTi plans to consolidate corporate emissions and investment data and provide confidential benchmarking insights that allow companies to compare progress against peers. In addition, the organization intends to publish annual public reports highlighting corporate net-zero progress, as well as identifying systemic barriers and transition challenges.
The initiative also plans to introduce indicators aimed at assessing whether corporate emissions reductions are progressing in line with targets and whether sufficient actions are being taken to support long-term climate ambitions.
In a related blog post, SBTi highlighted the growing business relevance of climate transition risks, stating:
“Companies face rising costs, shifting demand, regulatory uncertainty, and growing expectations from investors, customers, and employees. Transition risk is no longer theoretical — it is now a core business consideration.”
Despite broadening its role within the corporate climate transition ecosystem, SBTi clarified that it does not intend to act as a consulting firm or policy-making body. Instead, it plans to collaborate closely with organizations better positioned to provide advisory and policy support.
