Target setting process questions
Here we provide answers to common technical questions that companies have as they are going through the target-setting process.
Target validation
Validation is a critical part of the process of setting science-based targets for nature – safeguarding the integrity of the targets, ensuring an independent and rigorous evaluation process that delivers comparable results across companies.
The Accountability Accelerator hosts the independent validation service for science-based targets for nature. As of February 2025, validation services are officially open for eligible companies. Once you have completed Step 1: Assess, Step 2: Prioritize, or Step 3: Set targets, you can submit for external validation.
Visit the Accountability Accelerator Validation webpage to learn more about the validation process, find data templates and other resources, or register for validation services.
"When targets are validated and published, we can reference them credibly. This together with a clear implementation plan supports simplification, comparability and reporting, and enables us to clearly link our targets to science"
See companies’ validated results
Companies that complete, validate, and publicly disclose steps toward science-based targets for nature are displayed in SBTN’s Target Tracker.
Publicly sharing this validated progress helps showcase corporate leadership, reinforce accountability, and encourage broader adoption of science-based targets for nature. Although not all companies have disclosed their targets, over 60 targets have been validated so far.
Did you know?
You don’t have to submit all your target-setting work for validation at once.
Companies can now have their materiality assessment (Step 1: Assess) independently validated by the Accountability Accelerator before moving on to subsequent steps in the target-setting process. This option helps companies turn assessment insights into a credible, public milestone on their nature journey.
Learn more about the Step 1 validation milestone.
Governance
The Accountability Accelerator hosts SBTN’s external validation process. This ensures a clear separation between method development and validation.
To ensure an additional level of transparency and accountability, the validation service is overseen by an expert Integrity Council, fully independent from both the Accountability Accelerator and SBTN. Its sole responsibility is to ensure the integrity, accuracy and scientific robustness of the validation procedure.
Comprised of experts in environmental science, corporate sustainability and policy from around the world, the Integrity Council checks that due process has been followed for each validation, and that final results meet the intent and desired outcome of the target-setting methods developed by the Science Based Targets Network.