June 2025 Newsletter

 Recognizing progress toward credible nature action

Dear Colleague, 

Each day brings renewed urgency for sustained action to protect and restore nature. At SBTN, we are committed to supporting companies in moving from ambition to measurable impact. Today I’m pleased to announce a new way SBTN is recognizing – and incentivizing – earlier corporate progress towards science-based targets for nature. 

Companies can now have their materiality assessment work (Step 1: Assess) independently validated by the Accountability Accelerator as a standalone achievement. This enables companies to turn their impact materiality insights into a credible, recognized milestone on their target-setting journey.  

A robust materiality assessment using SBTN’s technical guidance can uncover hidden risks across the value chain – such as water scarcity – reducing exposure to operational, regulatory or reputational disruption. Independent validation and disclosure of this work signals leadership, supports regulatory readiness (including CSRD), and gives companies confidence that they’re on the right track to set credible targets.

Companies with validated Step 1 assessments will have an opportunity to participate in an upcoming SBTN communications campaign highlighting corporate momentum for nature action, launching later in 2025. 

Leading companies understand nature underpins long-term business success from supply chain stability to business resilience. We’re proud to support them in halting and reversing nature loss – and hope you’ll join us.

Our team is at London Climate Action Week (LCAW) this week to speak about the new validation milestone for companies, and the broader guidance SBTN provides to support credible corporate action for nature. Explore our event summary to find us at LCAW. 

Keep reading below for additional highlights from our Network.

All my best, 

Erin Billman
Executive Director 
Science Based Targets Network

Highlights from the UN Ocean Conference

The SBTN team including Ocean Hub representatives encouraged private sector action through science-based targets for the seafood sector at a range of events throughout the week, focused on seafood value chains, coastal tourism, and aligning corporate business models with planetary boundaries. The SBTN Ocean Hub is accepting expressions of interest from companies interested in being among the first to set Ocean science-based targets, starting with seafood. Learn more here.

SBTN partners also played a key role in building corporate momentum for ocean action surrounding UNOC. 

• The Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures has launched its ocean guidance which promotes alignment on metrics and definitions across TNFD, SBTN, and the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC). This alignment helps companies more easily understand and transfer data – reducing burden and increasing uptake of nature-related reporting and action.
• The United Nations Global Compact also released a new Ocean Investment Protocol report – a framework for financial institutions, (re)insurers, ocean industries, governments and development finance institutions (DFIs) to lead the growth of the Sustainable Ocean Economy (or SOE). SBTN’s approach is recommended throughout the report, particularly to companies within the ocean industry.

Other reports from UNOC have brought some promising news, including 18 new countries pledging support for the High Seas Treaty — the first comprehensive legal framework to create marine protected areas or enforce conservation on the high seas. Listen to an event recap from our colleagues at the Outrage and Optimism podcast. 

Welcoming New Members to our Corporate Engagement Program: We welcome some of the newest organizations to our Corporate Engagement Program: xNatura and Fresh Coast Climate Solutions. With over 270 members and counting, we look forward to sharing regular updates as the program continues to grow.