Standards & schemes
Science Based Targets initiative
In brief
The Science Based Targets initiative — founded by CDP, UN Global Compact, WRI and WWF — validates whether corporate emissions targets align with climate science. Its validation arm, SBTi Services, assesses submitted targets against published criteria and lists approved companies on a public dashboard; over eleven thousand companies now hold validated targets or commitments. The operative criteria are the Corporate Net-Zero Standard (V1.3.1) and Near-Term Criteria (V5.3.1, April 2026), with Net-Zero Standard V2.0 finalised and mandatory for new targets from 1 January 2028 — introducing recurring five-year revalidation, separate Scope 1 and Scope 2 pathways and transition-plan requirements for larger companies. Companies commit publicly, then have 24 months to submit targets; lapsed commitments are removed. A validation is a statement about a target's ambition and design, not achieved performance. Validation letters and target wording are specific: near-term, long-term and net-zero targets are separate objects with separate criteria, and only the approved wording should be used in communications. Dashboard removal for lapsed commitments gives outsiders a live check on whether a 'science-based target' claim is current. A rating or validation does not by itself certify every product or substantiate claims beyond the assessed scope.
Conditional relationships
A relationship does not mean that the standard proves or validates every use of a claim.
Recognition & legal context
No reviewed law references are published.
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