Science Based Targets (SBTi): How to Set Credible Climate Goals

More than 10,000 companies worldwide have now had their climate targets validated by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), a milestone that underscores the growing convergence of corporate climate ambition and scientific rigor ^[1]. The number of companies with validated targets grew 40% over a recent twelve-month period ^[2], while validated net-zero targets rose by 61% ^[3]. Against a backdrop of tightening climate regulation and growing investor scrutiny, science based targets have become the global benchmark for credible corporate climate commitments. This article examines what SBTi targets are, why they matter for business, how to set them step by step, and what their requirements mean in practice for organizations across sectors, including audiovisual production and live events.

What Are Science Based Targets (SBTi)?

The Science Based Targets initiative is a partnership founded by CDP, the United Nations Global Compact, the World Resources Institute (WRI), and WWF. Its core mission is to enable companies to define greenhouse gas reduction targets aligned with the Paris Agreement objective of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees C above pre-industrial levels ^[6].

What differentiates science based targets from self-declared climate commitments is mandatory independent validation: targets must pass through a formal review by SBTi Services before being listed publicly on the SBTi target dashboard. This external verification gives SBTi validation a credibility that internal pledges cannot replicate, which explains its growing adoption among companies seeking to demonstrate genuine progress rather than aspirational intent.

The initiative covers organizations of all sizes and sectors. Dedicated sector-specific standards apply to financial institutions, the forest, land and agriculture sector, and several others, while the Corporate Near-Term Criteria and the Corporate Net-Zero Standard serve most other corporate actors. Both standards were updated in April 2026, and a major revision (the Corporate Net-Zero Standard V2.0) is currently in development, with a binding timeline expected in the coming years ^[8].

Why SBTi Targets Deliver Real Business Value

The business case for setting science based targets extends well beyond regulatory compliance. A large-scale survey of companies with validated targets found that 91% reported an overall positive impact on their business, with two-thirds saying their targets improved competitiveness compared to industry peers ^[4]. The benefits span several key dimensions.

Financial performance and capital access

92% of companies with validated targets reported neutral or positive impacts on long-term financial performance ^[5]. Nearly half reported improvements in loan terms or credit ratings after setting targets, and 44% noted better access to capital or financing. Lenders and ratings agencies increasingly treat validated climate targets as a positive indicator of long-term risk management capacity, and early evidence suggests that the initial investment in target-setting translates into substantial long-term cost savings from operational efficiency gains.

Reputation and stakeholder trust

95% of companies reported a positive impact on their overall reputation following SBTi validation, with two-thirds noting enhanced consumer perception and improved brand trust ^[5]. 99% saw a positive or neutral impact on employee retention, a meaningful advantage in competitive talent markets. For organizations in industries where sustainability credentials increasingly influence supplier selection and client relationships, validated targets carry significant additional strategic weight.

Strategic clarity and decarbonization pace

80% of companies reported that target-setting improved strategic cohesion and long-term vision, with positive effects on innovation and access to new business opportunities noted across sectors ^[5]. A striking 86% reported an acceleration in their actual decarbonization pace as a direct consequence of committing to validated targets. The discipline of building a GHG inventory and defining reduction pathways consistently surfaces efficiency opportunities that had not previously been quantified.

Understanding Emissions Scopes: The Foundation of SBTi

Setting science based targets requires a thorough understanding of the three greenhouse gas emission scopes as defined by the GHG Protocol, the internationally recognized accounting framework underlying SBTi methodology.

Scope 1 covers direct emissions from sources owned or controlled by the organization, including company vehicles, on-site combustion, and industrial processes.

Scope 2 covers indirect emissions from purchased energy: electricity, heat, steam, and cooling.

Scope 3 covers all other indirect emissions throughout the value chain, including upstream supplier activities, purchased goods and services, employee commuting, business travel, logistics, and the use and end-of-life of sold products.

Under SBTi criteria, Scope 1 and 2 targets are mandatory for all companies. Scope 3 must be included whenever it represents 40% or more of a company’s total emissions across all three scopes ^[7]. When Scope 3 is included, the targets must collectively cover at least 67% of total reported Scope 3 emissions ^[7].

For most production and events companies, Scope 3 typically dominates the total carbon footprint, making a rigorous understanding of upstream and downstream emission sources a prerequisite for credible target-setting. TheGreenShot’s detailed resource on emission scopes in audiovisual production explains how each GHG scope maps to specific cost categories in film, TV, and live event contexts.

How to Set Science Based Targets: A Step-by-Step Process

The SBTi process is structured around five key stages ^[6], from initial commitment through to ongoing public disclosure.

Step 1: Commit

The company signs the SBTi Commitment Letter, making a public pledge to develop and submit validated science-based targets. From the date of signing, a 24-month window applies within which targets must be formally submitted to SBTi Services for validation.

Step 2: Develop

The company builds a comprehensive GHG emissions inventory covering Scopes 1, 2, and 3 (where relevant). It then selects an approved target-setting method from SBTi’s toolkit, tailored to its sector and organizational scale, and develops reduction targets consistent with 1.5 degrees C pathways. This stage typically requires collaboration between finance, operations, procurement, and sustainability teams to compile accurate, defensible emissions data.

Step 3: Submit

Targets are submitted through the official SBTi Validation Portal for independent assessment against the current version of the SBTi criteria ^[10]. Once the submission is complete, the validation review typically takes approximately one month. Companies whose targets do not yet meet the required ambition level may be asked to revise before final approval is granted.

Step 4: Communicate

Following validation, the company publicly announces its targets within six months. Effective communication engages employees, suppliers, customers, and investors, embedding the commitments into corporate governance, procurement policy, and operational planning.

Step 5: Disclose and track progress

Annual progress reporting is mandatory. Companies are also subject to a mandatory five-year target review, which requires them to demonstrate continued alignment with evolving SBTi criteria and scientific requirements ^[7]. Where scientific standards have increased since the original validation, companies may be required to raise their ambition level within a defined six-month window following the review trigger.

Near-Term and Net-Zero Targets: Requirements and Ambitions

SBTi distinguishes between two complementary target types, each addressing a different time horizon and level of ambition.

Near-term targets

Near-term science based targets define the emissions reductions a company must achieve within 5 to 10 years from the date of submission. All near-term targets covering Scopes 1 and 2 must align with a 1.5 degrees C reduction pathway. Where Scope 3 is included, those targets must align with a well-below 2 degrees C pathway as a minimum standard ^[7]. The base year for target calculation cannot predate 2015, and base year emissions must accurately reflect the organization’s typical GHG profile.

Net-zero targets

Net-zero targets define the long-term reduction trajectory required to achieve net-zero emissions across all scopes by 2050 at the latest (by 2040 for the power sector). To obtain SBTi-validated net-zero status, companies must reduce their total emissions by at least 90% compared to their base year ^[8]. Residual emissions that cannot be eliminated must be neutralized through permanent carbon removal, not conventional carbon offsetting. Near-term targets are a mandatory prerequisite for setting net-zero targets under the Corporate Net-Zero Standard.

Science Based Targets in the Audiovisual and Events Sector

The audiovisual and live events sector is under growing pressure to adopt science based targets, driven by broadcaster mandates, investor requirements, and the sector’s recognition of its material climate footprint.

Major broadcasters and studios setting the pace

Several leading organizations have demonstrated that SBTi validation is achievable in the M&E sector. Disney’s near-term and long-term climate targets have been validated by SBTi, covering direct operations and the full value chain. Netflix has set a 45% internal emissions reduction target aligned with science-based frameworks. Both the BBC and BBC Studios have published approved science-based targets in support of their net-zero commitments. In the United Kingdom, Albert certification, which is mandatory for productions commissioned by the BBC, Sky, Channel 4, Netflix UK, and ITV, explicitly ties production-level environmental assessments to science-based emissions reduction trajectories.

Challenges for production companies

For independent production companies, the first practical challenge is establishing a credible Scope 3 inventory. On a film or TV production, Scope 3 typically accounts for the majority of the total carbon footprint: crew and cast travel, accommodation, logistics, set construction materials, catering, costume supply chains, and post-production services all fall within this category ^[9]. Producers operating across multiple simultaneous projects face the additional complexity of consolidating emissions data from separate productions into a single corporate GHG inventory.

A practical starting point is to map all production cost categories to their relevant GHG scope, then prioritize data collection for the categories with the highest estimated emissions impact. TheGreenShot’s resource on carbon calculators used in the audiovisual sector provides a comparative overview of the main methodologies available.

Challenges for event organizers

Live event productions face a comparable Scope 3 profile: on-site power generation (frequently diesel generators), audience and crew mobility, logistics of staging and technical equipment, accommodation for touring crews, and waste management all contribute materially to the total carbon footprint. For recurring events, establishing a consistent measurement methodology from one edition to the next is a prerequisite for credible year-on-year progress reporting against SBTi targets.

The two-stage approach recommended by SBTi, starting with near-term targets before committing to a net-zero trajectory, is well-suited to organizations building their climate measurement capacity progressively. Companies can sign the Commitment Letter and begin with Scope 1 and 2 measurement, then phase in the full Scope 3 inventory as data collection systems mature.

GreenPro, TheGreenShot’s automated carbon tracking platform for audiovisual and events, connects directly to accounting feeds and uses AI-powered OCR to analyze invoices, call sheets, and purchase orders. It converts each item into certified CO2 values using recognized methodologies including Albert, Carbon’Clap, and the GHG Protocol, producing the structured, auditable carbon reports that form the evidential backbone of an SBTi submission.

Conclusion

Science based targets represent the most credible and widely adopted framework for aligning corporate climate commitments with the requirements of climate science. With over 10,000 companies validated and adoption accelerating across every major sector and region ^[1], setting an SBTi-validated target has shifted from a competitive differentiator to a baseline expectation in many industries. For organizations in the audiovisual and events sector, the path to credible science based targets begins with a structured emissions inventory, continues through validated near-term target development, and leads ultimately to a net-zero commitment aligned with the Corporate Net-Zero Standard. As the next major revision of that standard moves toward adoption, organizations that invest in robust carbon measurement infrastructure now will be better positioned to meet evolving requirements and demonstrate genuine climate leadership to clients, broadcasters, investors, and talent alike. For those ready to take the first operational step, the concrete levers for reducing production carbon footprint offer a practical starting point alongside formal target-setting.

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