SBTi seeks experts to help revise corporate net-zero standard 

Target-setting body announces consultations plus groups on Scope 3 and carbon removals  

The Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) wants representatives from business, civil society and academia to help revise its corporate net-zero standard. 

Five new working groups will explore how themes including value chain Scope 3 emissions and carbon removals should be treated in the context of target setting.  

SBTi described Scope 3 as “one of the biggest challenges in corporate decarbonisation” in its announcement. 

The body has been grappling with the fact many of its members are currently unable or unwilling to promise the long-term decarbonisation of their value chains. Last year, it removed a raft of big names from its platform after they failed to come up with suitable targets in time, with a number of them telling REP at the time that the stumbling block was Scope 3 emissions.  

In July, SBTi’s board said it was considering allowing companies to use offsets, sparking widespread backlash, including from its own staff. It backtracked after a review.  

Now, it wants to explore ways to increase the effectiveness of Scope 3 target-setting and implementation, including “considering a wider set of metrics, methods and tools that companies can use to set targets, report progress and manage emissions in their value chain”.  

Other topic covered by the new expert groups include Scope 2 emissions, data quality, assurance and decarbonisation efforts outside corporate supply chains and operations, known as Beyond Value Chain Mitigation. 

A draft of the updated net-zero standard will go to consultation and be tested by practitioners in a pilot later this year, SBTi said.  

It added that this new approach to stakeholder engagement was intended to offer an “extensive opportunity” for businesses and others to provide feedback, so that the revised standard is “is effective and actionable, without compromising on ambition.”  

The deadline to apply for one of SBTi’s working groups is 28 February.