Science Based Targets initiative names new CEO 

The Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) has appointed former senior UK civil servant David Kennedy as its CEO. 

Kennedy has held several roles within UK government, and spent six years as the founding CEO of the Climate Change Committee, advising government and parliament on climate policy.  

He has spent the past year as a partner at EY in London, leading the firms work on decarbonisation in the UK banking, food, infrastructure and manufacturing sectors. 

Kennedy will take up his new position at SBTi in the second quarter of 2025, replacing interim CEO, Sue Jenny Ehr.  

Ehr, SBTi’s former chief legal officer, has been leading the organisation since last July, when its inaugural CEO Luiz Amara stepped down. His departure came on the back of public outrage, after SBTi’s board announced plans to consider allowing companies to offset their Scope 3 carbon emissions under their science-based targets – a move that did not have the support of many of its staff.  

In March, Real Economy Progress broke the news that SBTi had removed the net-zero commitments of more than 200 companies from its platform because they missed the deadline to set credible targets. A number of the companies cited struggles with Scope 3 emissions. 

According to SBTi, companies representing nearly 40% of global market capitalisation currently have validated SBTi targets or commitments to set goals, with the strongest growth seen in Asia.    

This year, the body plans to consult on an updated Corporate Net-Zero Standard, and will continue to develop sector-specific standards. 

SBTi’s chair, Francesco Starace said Kennedy’s appointment had been unanimously approved by the board, describing him as “a true pioneer with unrivalled qualifications.”  

He also thanked Jenny Ehr for her service as interim CEO, describing her as “a steady pair of hands”.