Resources

Here you will find the latest guidance from the Science Based Targets Network for companies to take ambitious and measurable action for nature.

We regularly update this section so if you can’t find a resource, please check back or contact us. You can also explore our technical guidance through our new target-setting guide.

Onboarding support for companies

Target-setting guidance for companies

Corporate Manual – A new manual providing a practical overview of all existing technical guidance
Technical FAQs – Provides answers to common technical questions beginning with Steps 1 & 2
Biodiversity overview – How SBTN's methods support biodiversity
Stakeholder Engagement Guidance – Local stakeholder engagement guidance to assist companies in target setting
SBTN Glossary – Glossary of terms used in Steps 1-3
Data and tool criteria – General resource informing the rationale for selected data and tools for target-setting
Self Assessment Tool – Step 1 & 2 Self Assessment Tool
Summary of data requirements for the SBTN methods – A summary of data requirements for the SBTN methods
Corporate Manual – Japanese Translation – A manual providing a practical overview of all existing technical guidance, translated to Japanese

Assessing your environmental impacts – Introduction and technical guidance overview
Technical Guidance – Method to complete Step 1: Assess (V1.1)
Step 1 Toolbox – Tools to support companies in completing Step 1
Materiality Screening Tool – Tool to aid in initial corporate sector-level screening of environmental impacts (V1.1)
High Impact Commodity List – A list of most common environmental impacts associated with the production of major commodities (V1.1)
Illustrative case study – Brings to life the data collection and analysis process (V1.1)
Addendum to Steps 1 & 2 for Ocean Targets – Companion guide to read in tandem with the original Step 1 and 2 technical guidance, with specific notes for the seafood sector.
Step 1 & 2 Data Template – Validation resources now available on the Accountability Accelerator website

Prioritizing your environmental impacts – Introduction and technical guidance overview
Technical Guidance – Method to complete Step 2: Prioritize (V1.1)
Illustrative case study – Brings to life the data collection and analysis process (V1.1)
Addendum to Steps 1 & 2 for Ocean Targets – Companion guide to read in tandem with the original Step 1 and 2 technical guidance, with specific notes for the seafood sector.

Setting freshwater targets – Introduction and technical guidance overview
Freshwater Technical Guidance – Technical content to complete Step 3: Set freshwater targets (V1.1)
Stakeholder consultation for model selection
Illustrative case study – Brings to life the freshwater target-setting process (V1.1)
Corporate water stewardship and freshwater SBTs – Overview and Alignment and interoperability between leading approaches
Freshwater – Technical FAQs – FAQs for SBTN Freshwater Guidance
Data Template – Step 3 Freshwater v1.1 – Validation resources now available on the Accountability Accelerator website

Setting land targets – Introduction
Land Technical Guidance – Technical content to complete Step 3: Set land targets (V1.0)
Land Technical Guidance – Supplement – Supplement to Version 1.0
Natural Lands Map – Identifies natural lands across the world to support no conversion of natural ecosystems target-setting
SBTN Natural Lands Map – Technical Documentation – Technical document relating to the natural lands map
Land – Technical FAQs – FAQs for SBTN Land Guidance
Step 3 Land Data template – Validation resources now available on the Accountability Accelerator website
Conceptual Guidance – Remediation of Converted Land – Two-page conceptual guidance for land remediation, in alignment with the SBTN No Conversion of Natural Ecosystems target

Setting ocean targets – Overview
Step 3 Ocean Technical Guidance V1 – Methods for companies setting seafood science-based targets.
Addendum to Steps 1 & 2 for Ocean Targets – Companion guide to read in tandem with the original Step 1 and 2 technical guidance, with specific notes for the seafood sector.
Ocean Data Resources Tool – A compiled list of resources and tools for companies to source Stock Health and State of Nature data for each of the targets.
SBTN Endangered, Threatened, and Protected Species Risk Assessment Scoring Tool – A data-limited, stakeholder engagement tool developed by the Ocean Hub as an optional resource for companies as part of Target 3 to help companies quantify and baseline their target.
1 Page Overview of V1 Ocean Guidance for Decision Makers – This 1 page summary outlines the benefits of setting Ocean targets for decision makers
Ocean Technical FAQs – Find Ocean-specific FAQs in the Technical FAQs Step 3 section.
2024 Public Consultation – Learn more about the public consultation process used to develop the Ocean targets.

Biodiversity overview – How SBTN's methods support biodiversity
Biodiversity Paper – Short paper summarizing the coverage of biodiversity within the first science-based targets for nature and next steps

Climate targets (via SBTi) – Guidance to set science-based emissions reduction targets through Science Based Targets initiative

Overview of Step 4: Act – Overview of Step 4: Act
Response Options Database

Overview of Step 5: Track – Overview of Step 5: Track

Validation Services – Validation resources now available on the Accountability Accelerator website
Validation Pilot Summary Report – Insights from the 2023-2024 corporate pilot
Step 1 & 2 Validation Requirements & Recommendations v1.1 – A guide to prepare you for the validation process for Steps 1 & 2
Step 3 Freshwater Validation Requirements and Recommendations v1.1 – A guide to prepare you for the validation process for Step 3: Freshwater
Step 3 Land Validation Requirements and Recommendations v1.0 – A guide to prepare you for the validation process for Step 3: Land
Claims Guidance v1.0 – First version of the SBTN Claims Guidance

Guidance for cities

Science-based climate targets: A guide for cities – This new guide supports cities worldwide to develop science-based climate targets and provides guidance on updating existing targets.

Metas climáticas basadas en cienca: Una Guía para ciudades – Descarga la guía – español
Metas Baseadas Na Ciência: Um Guia Para as Cidades – Baixe o guia – português
科学的气候目标: 城市指南 – 下载指南 – 普通话
都市・自治体のための気候SBT(Science-Based Target) 設定ガイド – ガイドをダウンロード – 日本語
下載指引 – 繁體中文版

Translated guidance for companies

Guía de inicio de Empresas – Descarga la guía – español
Guide préliminaire à destination des entreprises – Télécharger le guide – français
Guia Inicial para Empresas – Baixe o guia – português
初步指南 – 下载指南 – 普通话
ネイチャーSBTs 企業マニュアル – 自然に関する科学に基づく目標を設定する
企業のための初期ガイダンス – ガイドをダウンロード – 日本語
Manuel de L’entreprise – Manuel de L’entreprise – français

Resources

Onboarding support for companies

How to get started

Target-setting guidance for companies

Essential resources throughout target-setting

Step 1: Assess

Step 2: Prioritize

Step 3: Set targets – Freshwater

Step 3: Set targets – Land

Step 3: Set targets – Ocean

Step 3: Set targets – Biodiversity

Step 3: Set targets – Climate

Step 4: Act

Step 5: Track

Validation

Guidance for cities

Target-setting guidance for cities

Translated guidance for cities

Translated guidance for companies

Translated guidance

Archive

Step 1: Assess

Step 2: Prioritize

Step 3: Set targets

Step 4: Act

Cross-step guidance