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. In May 2024, we announced that the Accountability Accelerator, also part of the Global Commons Alliance, will host the validation of science-based targets for nature.

Once you have completed Step 1: Assess, Step 2: Prioritize, or Step 3: Set targets you can submit for validation. Companies are required to submit steps sequentially, it is not possible to submit Step 3 without first passing Step 1 and Step 2 validation. This process ensures companies have correctly followed the requirements, in the right order, before implementation (Step 4: Act), or associated public claims on progress (Step 5: Track).

In May 2023 a target validation pilot commenced with a group of pioneering companies. The pilot companies were required to prepare and submit freshwater and land targets for validation in alignment with the previous version (2023) of SBTN’s methods. The scope of the pilot validation included the following steps:

Step 1: Assess – an integrated assessment method to identify key issues and locations to focus on for target setting
Step 2: Interpret and Prioritize – a method for prioritization of target setting, using a mix of environmental, social, and financial considerations
Step 3: Measure, Set, Disclosure – methods for setting land and freshwater targets, addressing some of the dominant drivers of biodiversity loss and climate change.

The pilot concluded in June 2024 and has been an enriching learning experience for everyone involved throughout the network. We are deeply grateful to our pioneering companies, supporting consultancies and NGO partners for their participation in the first year of setting corporate science-based targets for nature.

The pilot summary report – available here – provides an overview of the pilot itself, initial learnings, key benefits and insights into best practices.

The Global Commons Alliance Accountability Accelerator, which hosts the independent target validation function for the SBTN, has opened a call for applications to its Integrity Council. The Council’s role is to ensure the integrity, accuracy and scientific validity of the target validation process. The deadline for applications is 17 October 2024.

Target validation process

Validation of science-based targets is an independent process involving expert review of corporate submissions, ensuring they meet all requirements outlined in the SBTN methods.

This is primarily carried out through a desk review of evidence provided by your company in its submission forms and supporting documents. Query logs and clarifying calls between your company and the validators are used to solicit additional information to inform validation decisions.

All information will be submitted online.
After being accepted for validation, you should complete your company’s submission forms, use data templates to organize your information per method, and gather all necessary supplementary evidence to submit for validation.

The Accountability Accelerator is working on a validation platform to make this process easy for companies and overall support the validation process from end to end—all your communication with their validators will occur on this system, to ensure data security and confidentiality.

You are encouraged to refer to existing SBTN tools and supporting documentation to ensure compliance with requirements before submission, maximizing your chance of passing the validation:

SBTN requirements & recommendations for target-setting (v1.0 for 2023 methods)

SBTN requirements & recommendations for target-setting (v1.1 for 2024 methods)

SBTN Step 1 & 2 self-assessment tool (v1.1 for 2024 methods)
An assigned member of the validation team will first conduct an initial screening of your submission for completeness, before embarking on a thorough desk review of your company’s submission forms and supplementary evidence.

After passing the screening, a validator will be assigned to your company, based on available capacity and the criteria outlined in SBTN’s conflict of interest policy (in development).

Once validation has started, a query log will be hosted on the validation platform and bilateral calls between validators and your company will take place to ensure that queries are addressed in a timely manner—potentially soliciting additional information/clarification necessary to complete the validation assessment.
Approved targets will be posted publicly on SBTN’s forthcoming target tracker—this is the moment at which your company may announce its targets externally; SBTN will launch a project to build this dashboard.

You must use forthcoming SBTN’s claims guidance to ensure accuracy, consistency, and transparency of external communications—a key function to help mitigate real or perceived risk of greenwashing.

You must announce your company’s approved target publicly on the SBTN website within six months of the approval date—targets unannounced after this period must be resubmitted.
Frequency of disclosure: You will publicly report your company’s pressure indicators and progress against published targets on an annual basis.

Where to disclose progress: There are no specific requirements regarding where progress against published targets should be disclosed, as long as it is publicly available. SBTN recommends disclosure through standardized, comparable data platforms such as CDP’s Water Security and/or Forests annual questionnaire, though annual reports, sustainability reports, and your company’s website are acceptable.
Disclosure guidance: You should use disclosure guidance from reputable sources, including but not limited to:

Accountability Framework initiative

Draft Greenhouse Gas Protocol Land Sector and Removals Guidance

ISEAL guidance for making jurisdictional claims

AWS International Water Stewardship Standard

UN Global Compact CEO Water Mandate
Disclosure of 2025 targets achievement: The earliest target date in current SBTN methods is 2025 to ensure the no conversion of natural ecosystems in direct operations, natural forests, and conversion hotspots. This requirement is aligned with the Accountability Framework initiative, the SBTi FLAG requirements and the European Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) (EU 2023/1115). You must prepare to disclose your achievement of this target, and should use future guidance developed for this purpose.

Governance

The Accountability Accelerator will host SBTN’s external validation process for an interim period of two to three years, beginning in mid 2024. During this period, it will ensure a clear separation between method development and validation, while allowing SBTN to monitor and learn from the process.

Two new bodies to ensure robust accountability process oversight and learning will be created: the Integrity Council, and the Learning Committee.

The Integrity Council will act as the governance body for the validation function, ensuring due process is followed in all validation activities, approve strategic validation decisions, and play an active role in complaints and appeals of the validation process. This council will be independent from both the Accountability Accelerator and SBTN councils.

The Learning Committee will act as SBTN’s primary interaction with the validation function, with learnings passed on to method developers and vice-versa.

“SBTN’s need for independent validation of science-based targets for nature aligns well with our commitment to a strong corporate accountability ecosystem. Our existing relationship as part of the Global Commons Alliance also means we have complementary but distinct wider goals and ambitions. Through our rigorous assessment and compliance processes, we will support companies to play an important role in creating an equitable, nature positive, net-zero future using science-based targets for nature.

Natasha MaticExecutive DirectorAccountability Accelerator

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