The Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), a key player in aligning corporate sustainability goals with global climate objectives, has reached a major milestone: over 10,000 companies have now set or committed to science-based emissions reduction targets. This marks a 29% increase in corporate commitments within the past year, up from 7,425 in 2022.

Founded in 2015, the SBTi aims to standardize science-based environmental target-setting across industries. Its core functions include defining and promoting best practices for emissions reduction and net-zero goals, offering technical guidance to companies, and independently validating their targets.

The number of companies with validated climate targets has also seen a remarkable surge, surpassing 7,000, up from 4,200 at the end of 2023. The organization has implemented several initiatives to meet the growing demand for corporate decarbonization standards and target validation services.

This achievement comes amid a challenging period for the SBTi. Earlier this year, the organization faced criticism following a proposal to include carbon credits in corporate net-zero plans under its revised Corporate Net Zero Standard, leading to the resignation of its previous CEO. The SBTi has since appointed David Kennedy, former Chief Executive of the UK Committee on Climate Change, as its new CEO. Additionally, the organization is reconsidering the role of carbon credits in its updated standard.

In a statement celebrating the milestone, the SBTi said:

“We applaud these 10,000 companies and financial institutions for their commitment to robust, credible, and ambitious climate action. We urge all eligible businesses to follow suit and set emission reduction targets aligned with science. The time to act is now—our planet depends on it.”

With this growing momentum, the SBTi continues to emphasize the urgent need for businesses worldwide to adopt science-based targets to contribute meaningfully to global climate goals.