SBTN launches financial sector program to accelerate corporate uptake of science-based targets for nature

New program, developed with support from CDP and WWF France, is now open to financial institutions and other relevant financial sector organizations

October 25, 2026 — At UN Biodiversity COP17, the Science Based Targets Network (SBTN), with support from CDP and WWF France, launched the SBTN Financial Sector Engagement Program, now open to financial institutions and other relevant financial sector organizations.

The program is designed to help banks, asset managers and insurers build the understanding and practical capability to bring science-based targets for nature into company and client engagement.

Many financial institutions are already engaging companies on nature, but many are still building the practical knowledge and confidence to assess credible corporate action and understand how science-based target-setting fits alongside approaches such as TNFD framework and existing investor stewardship initiatives.

That need is reflected in growing investor attention to target credibility. In TNFD’s 2026 Status Report, 93% of surveyed investors said understanding whether companies’ nature target methodologies are science-based is useful when assessing target credibility.

From understanding to action 

SBTN can help close that gap by giving financial institutions a common technical foundation and stronger basis for company and client dialogue — helping them ask better questions and assess the credibility of corporate action. Science-based targets help companies determine where action matters most and what level of change is needed.

“Science-based targets are critical for turning corporate ambition on nature into measurable action. Scaling their uptake will also require stronger signals from the wider systems companies operate within. Financial institutions can be powerful enablers through the expectations they set and the influence they have with companies and clients. This program will give them the understanding and practical tools to bring science-based target-setting into those conversations.”
Erin Billman, CEO, Science Based Targets Network

Participants will have access to training on SBTN’s updated methods, practical engagement resources, interoperability guidance, corporate target-setting insights, access to SBTN expertise and a peer working group. SBTN and WWF will provide expertise on technical issues and on corporate target setting implementation to support finance use case engagement, CDP will leverage its vast network of FI signatories and expertise in water security and disclosure data to coordinate the program and help equip participants with the training and tools needed for effective corporate engagement. 

Rather than creating a new formal engagement commitment, the program is designed to strengthen existing company and client engagement by giving participants clear ways to bring science-based target-setting into their stewardship and engagement activities.

The launch follows the release of Science-Based Targets for Nature 2.0, which gives companies more practical ways to get started and make progress while maintaining the rigor and place-based approach that underpin credible science-based action.

The first phase will focus on freshwater quantity targets as a practical entry point for sectors where water availability is particularly material. It will run as a test-and-learn period through June 2027, with future expansion informed by participant needs and demand.

Financial institutions and other relevant financial sector organizations can join the program here.

Media contacts: Sapna Shah, CDP — sapna.shah@cdp.net; Anastasia Seban, WWF France — aseban@wwf.fr; Arabella Stickels, SBTN — communications@sbtnetwork.org;