SBTN publishes pilot outcomes, proving the concept of science-based targets for nature
The Science Based Targets Network (SBTN) has today published outcomes from its year-long corporate pilot program, proving that companies now have a clear and credible pathway to take ambitious action for nature.
The pilot outcomes, detailed in a report linked here and below, highlight that first-mover companies are now equipped with a gold standard approach to comprehensively assess their biggest impacts on nature, measure those impacts accurately, and set science-based targets – beginning with freshwater and land. This approach enables them to address key drivers of nature loss in the ecosystems where they and their suppliers operate.
Significant value gained from target-setting process
The corporate pilot program has provided significant value for companies, consultancies, NGOs and SBTN, reinforcing that SBTN is closing a critical gap in corporate sustainability.
Participating companies highlighted that setting targets helped raise corporate ambition and drive credible action for nature, including moving beyond zero deforestation to zero conversion of natural ecosystems. They view science-based targets for nature as instrumental in establishing a foundation for measurable, comparable, and standardized approaches.
SBTN’s target-setting process not only helped drive more strategic discussions around business functions at a leadership level, but also provided credibility and a common language to advance engagement with stakeholders.
The pilot successfully provided companies with a valuable test-and-learn opportunity to engage in the target-setting process in an integrated way for the first time. The majority of participating companies received validation for some or all of their targets and while some used the pilot as a chance to gain insights for future commitments, others are now preparing to publicly disclose and adopt their targets. These piloting companies have six months (by Jan 10, 2025) to adopt their targets, which will be made public via a target tracker on a rolling basis.
With momentum building, SBTN is responding and adapting to improve feasibility and practicality, while maintaining scientific rigor
In response to pilot learnings, SBTN has improved its methods to address challenges with feasibility and complexity of the target validation requirements. The updated methods, released in July, include strengthening confidence in prioritizing areas for action, enhancing interoperability with related frameworks, offering additional support and resources, and providing clearer guidance. In addition, through its new Claims Guidance, SBTN has addressed feedback to provide more flexibility in the target-setting journey. A summary of these can be found in the report.
Using SBTN’s strengthened methods, over 150 additional companies – through SBTN’s Corporate Engagement Program and its service provider program – are preparing to set science-based targets for nature.
The upcoming new validation service, hosted by the Accountability Accelerator , will come online by Q4 2024, enabling a selected group of companies to ensure their targets are robust and in line with what science requires. Companies have been selected from SBTN’s recent public expression of interest for target validation services.
Looking forward, SBTN’s next generation of nature targets for 2025 will address corporate demand for implementation guidance and broader coverage of freshwater and land targets alongside additional biodiversity integration. SBTN will also deliver the first ocean targets for companies, and equip cities with initial guidance on science-based targets for nature.
Collaboration needed to overcome systemic issues
As SBTN turns its sights to scaling adoption and impact, more collaboration is needed to overcome broader systemic challenges. Challenges flagged in the report are systemic, such as difficulty in tracing raw materials through complex supply chains and local freshwater model availability.
Overcoming these challenges demands collective action across civil society and the broader international community to help close critical gaps, and help solve fundamental, system-wide challenges, so all companies can take ambitious action where nature needs it most.
As SBTN enters the next phase of its mission, its goal remains steadfast: to empower companies to operate within environmental boundaries, meeting society’s needs while making quantifiable and science-based contributions toward a nature-positive future.
Time for companies to act
Now is the time for companies to act—responsibly, urgently, and with the ambition that matches the scale of the challenge.
SBTN is calling on companies to begin their journey toward science-based targets by using its methods to understand their impacts on nature. Credible action can only happen when companies understand where their biggest impacts on nature are and can measure those impacts accurately.
To learn more about SBTN’s corporate pilot program outcomes, its strategic insights and corporate case studies from the pilot, view the latest report.
Businesses interested in setting science-based nature targets of their own can explore the latest corporate guidance online through SBTN’s target-setting guide, which is also available offline through its corporate manual.
