STEP UP
FOR NATURE

The Step Up for Nature initiative is a global call for companies to take credible, science-based action for nature through the Science Based Targets Network. It invites companies to publicly signal their next intended milestone toward setting science-based targets for nature – helping to demonstrate collective private-sector momentum ahead of the 2026 Global Biodiversity Stocktake (the first global review of progress on the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework).

The initiative focuses on the first three steps of the science-based target-setting process. Within these steps, companies can progress through one or several steps together – first signaling their ambition, then completing the required work, and finally achieving independent validation through SBTN’s validation host, the Accountability Accelerator.

Participating in Step Up for Nature allows companies to:

• Join a growing movement of companies acting to protect and restore nature.
• Strengthen business resilience by taking science-based action to address material nature-related impacts and dependencies.
• Demonstrate credible progress toward science-based targets for nature – turning ambition into measurable contributions to global biodiversity goals ahead of the 2026 Global Biodiversity Stocktake
• Increase visibility as part of a first-mover cohort leading on credible nature action.

Any company that is preparing to set or validate science-based targets for nature through SBTN can participate – whether they are at Step 1 (materiality and value chain assessment), Step 2 (prioritization), or Step 3 (target-setting). 

Because completing an ambition requires submitting a step for validation, participation is open to companies eligible for validation through the Accountability Accelerator. The validation service applies to all companies around the world, independent of their size, complexity of operations or industrial sector with some exceptions for service providers, oil and gas companies and financial institutions. 

Learn more about validation eligibility in the Accountability Accelerator validation procedure explainer. 

Not eligible for target-setting but still interested in getting involved in the Step Up for Nature initiative? 

SBTN welcomes those interested in helping scale the reach and impact of the initiative. 

• SBTN Partners can access a custom suite of materials to help connect with companies on Step Up for Nature in the SBTN Partner Portal. Forget the portal password? Contact SBTN Communications: communications@sbtnetwork.org. 
• Consultancies and Service Providers interested in helping their clients Step Up for Nature can start by presenting the explainer slides. Members of the SBTN Referral Program will have access to more ready-to-use outreach materials and ideas for actions through the Members-only portal. Interested in joining the Referral Program? Start by joining the Corporate Engagement Program.
• Financial institutions and investors can read this one-pager to find out how their organization can Step Up for Nature.

No. The Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) climate commitment is a formal, claims-based milestone that marks the first required step in the validated target-setting journey for climate.

In contrast, the Science Based Targets Network (SBTN) Step Up for Nature initiative is not part of the technical target-setting process and carries no formal claims. It provides a way for companies to show they’re taking credible, time-bound steps toward validation while accessing practical support and resources along the way. 

Serving as a signal of intent – similar in spirit to the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) Adopter campaign, it helps broaden participation and build transparency and momentum as companies prepare to set science-based targets for nature.

The Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) sets out the world’s shared goals for halting and reversing nature loss, as the Paris Agreement does for climate change. Science Based Targets Network provides the mechanism for companies to operationalize those goals – turning global ambition into measurable, science-based action. More information on how science-based targets for nature support biodiversity can be found here.

Companies sign up through the registration form, selecting the next milestone(s) they aim to achieve (Step 1, Step 1 & Step 2, and/or Step 3) and their intended completion timeline, which can either be end of June or end of December for each year.

Once registered, companies will:

1. Receive confirmation and resources to support progress on their chosen milestone.
2. Be featured on SBTN’s public Ambition Board which will be published once the first cohort of companies has joined the initiative – with regular updates thereafter as new participants come onboard and advance through their milestones. The Board will present a simple listing of participating companies, the milestone(s) they intend to complete (e.g., Step 1, 2, and/or 3) and their intended completion date.
3. Participants will receive a series of emails with step-specific tips, relevant resources, and the latest updates from SBTN.
4. Companies meet their ambition by submitting their work for the selected milestone for validation to the Accountability Accelerator before their self-declared timeline expires.
5. The first 25 companies to submit their work for validation through the Step up for Nature initiative will receive a 50% discount on the cost of their validation. More information can be found here. 

Companies meet their ambition by first registering for validation services through SBTN’s validation host, Accountability Accelerator, and then submitting their work for the selected milestone for validation before their self-declared timeline expires.

When a company completes its milestone, it submits its work to Accountability Accelerator for validation. The time needed to complete the validation process varies by company and the complexity of the submission. Once validation is complete and the company chooses to make a public claim in accordance with SBTN claims guidance, the milestone is displayed on the SBTN Target Tracker. 

Yes. Companies can request to update or extend their ambition if timelines or scopes shift. Updated ambitions will appear in the next dashboard refresh.

SBTN defines completion of an ambition as submitting the milestone for validation to the Accountability Accelerator. 

Companies that reach this point move from ambition to validation, and once approved and publicly disclosed, their milestone appears on the SBTN Target Tracker. SBTN will also publish the number of companies who have completed validation but are not ready for public disclosure.

For companies whose timelines have passed but who have not yet submitted for validation, SBTN will continue to encourage and support them to complete their milestone.

The first two steps in the target-setting process help companies assess and prioritize their environmental impacts and then proceed to the third step where they can set targets across freshwater, land, and ocean. Biodiversity is integrated across our guidance, and climate targets are set via our partner organization, the Science Based Targets initiative.

Steps 1-3 are supported by detailed technical methods, with initial guidance for Step 4: Act available (including the SBTN Action Framework and initial response options). Additional non-prescriptive resources, coming soon, for Steps 4-5 will help companies plan and monitor implementation.

Explore the target-setting approach in more detail through our online target-setting guide.

The Step Up for Nature initiative focuses on Steps 1-3 (assessing, prioritizing, and setting targets) because these are the method-based, validatable milestones that demonstrate measurable corporate progress toward science-based targets for nature.

Steps 4-5 are equally important parts of the broader target-setting process, but unlike the earlier method-based steps, they involve company-specific implementation and monitoring rather than standardized validation. These steps are where companies take action on the ground, manage performance, and report outcomes once targets are set.

By focusing the campaign on Steps 1-3, SBTN can publicly track credible, science-based progress through the Ambition Board and Target Tracker, while continuing to develop non-prescriptive practical resources to support companies in acting on and tracking their targets over time.

Timelines vary by company, depending on readiness, scope, data availability, and internal capacity. The estimates below are indicative and will continue to be refined as more companies move through the process.

Typical timeframes (without validation):

• Steps 1-2 (Assess & Prioritize): around 1 to 6 months
• Step 3 (Set targets): around 1 to 3 months

For validation, companies work through the Accountability Accelerator, SBTN’s independent validation host. The process involves six stages: registration, submission, screening, contracting, validation, and publication. Once a company submits its work for validation, it has achieved its current milestone for the Step up for Nature initiative. More information on the validation process can be found here.

Because company circumstances vary widely, SBTN cannot provide specific cost estimates for the internal work companies complete prior to validation, which may include support from external consultants. Validation pricing, however, is available here.

While the Step Up for Nature initiative encourages companies to demonstrate progress toward science-based targets, accelerated pathways make that ambition more achievable by providing flexible, modular routes for companies to focus their initial efforts. 

They help companies:

• Act sooner while maintaining credibility
• Focus efforts where nature needs it most
• Prove what’s possible, then scale

This is not about lowering the bar. It’s about creating credible, practical ways to begin – demonstrating early results, building buy-in, and then scaling up to full target coverage over time. More information can be found here.

All SBTN resources are publicly available through the Resource Library – a central hub for the latest guidance, tools, and learning materials to support companies on their journey toward science-based targets for nature.

Companies that join the Step Up for Nature initiative will also receive a series of emails with step-specific tips, relevant resources, and the latest updates from SBTN.

Start here:

• Step-by-Step One-Pagers: These short guides on Step 1: Assess, Step 2: Prioritize, Step 3 – Set Freshwater Targets, Step 3 – Set Land Targets outline what’s involved in each step, how long each typically takes, and where to find key supporting materials.
• Online Target-Setting Guide: The most up-to-date, interactive guide for companies setting science-based targets for nature and linking to all relevant methods and tools. (Also available as a downloadable Corporate Manual, with the latest information online.)

Key materials in SBTN’s Resource Library include all technical guidance documents providing prescriptive methods to prepare and set targets. In addition, access:

• Technical FAQs
• Tools and data resources. For example to support 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)
• Validation templates ​​can be found on Accountability Accelerator’s website – these are are essential to check companies’ analysis and requirements 
• Corporate Case Studies

Validation is conducted by SBTN’s independent validation host, Accountability Accelerator, who reviews company submissions against SBTN’s scientific criteria.

Validation is essential for credible corporate target setting. Without it, companies risk being perceived as greenwashing, which undermines trust, weakens incentives for ambitious action, and makes it harder to measure real contributions to global frameworks for nature and climate.

Through validation, the Accountability Accelerator independently confirms that a company’s work is consistent with SBTN’s methods.

Validation adds value by:

• Verifying that company work aligns with SBTN’s methods
• Ensuring targets are robust and comparable across companies
• Building investor and stakeholder confidence
• Giving companies confidence to take credible, science-based action for nature

Validators assess the submitted work for the accuracy of calculations, validity of assumptions and justifications, and quality of evidence and data.

The validation service, hosted by the Accountability Accelerator, is overseen by an independent Integrity Council, which ensures the scientific integrity and accuracy of the process. The Council is comprised of experts in environmental science, corporate sustainability, assurance, and policy from around the world.

Companies participating in the Step Up for Nature initiative achieve their milestone when they submit their work for validation to the Accountability Accelerator – SBTN’s independent validation host. The Accountability Accelerator reviews each submission to ensure company progress is credible, transparent, and grounded in science.

The validation process involves six stages: registration, submission, screening, contracting, validation, and publication.

Companies register for the validation service, and after a quick eligibility check (1-2 business days) they will gain access to the validation platform through which they can submit their work. 

The validation stage itself typically takes around nine weeks, though timing varies depending on the company and the complexity of submission. Companies selecting more discrete scopes – such as through one or a combination of accelerated pathways – can generally expect a shorter review period.

Companies can prepare for validation in advance by referencing the range of resources available here. 

Validation pricing information can be found here. To help build momentum behind the Step Up for Nature initiative, the Accountability Accelerator is offering the first 25 companies to submit their work for validation a 50% discount on the cost of their validation. This promotion has limited availability and is offered on a first-come, first-served basis. Terms and conditions can be found here. 

The Ambition Board is a public dashboard that will showcase the growing wave of companies stepping up for nature – highlighting their next milestones, intended timelines, and collective progress toward setting science-based targets for nature.

SBTN will publish the first version once the initial cohort of participating companies is confirmed, and will update it regularly so new companies can be recognized as they join and advance through their milestones.

The Ambition Board will show companies’ ambitions and intended milestones. The Target Tracker shows validated milestones that have been approved and publicly disclosed.