The Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) has announced that more than 10,000 companies now have validated science-based climate targets, marking a major milestone for the organisation.
The figure reflects rapid growth, particularly over the past two years, as more companies commit to emissions reduction targets aligned with climate science.
Rapid growth in validated targets
According to the SBTi, more than 2,800 companies had their targets validated in 2025 alone. This brings the total number of validated companies to over 10,000, up nearly 40% from around 7,200 at the start of 2025, and more than double the approximately 4,200 companies recorded in 2023.
The organisation said companies with validated targets now represent more than 40% of global market capitalisation. These companies operate across more than 90 countries and span a wide range of sectors and company sizes.
What the SBTi does
Founded in 2015, the Science Based Targets initiative was created to make science-based climate target setting a standard practice for companies.
Its core activities include defining best practice for emissions reduction and net-zero targets in line with climate science, offering technical guidance to companies, and independently assessing and validating corporate climate targets.
The SBTi published its first Corporate Net-Zero Standard in 2021. It is currently reviewing this framework and released a draft version of its updated Corporate Net-Zero Standard (Version 2) last year.
Global uptake led by the UK, Europe and Asia
Japan now has the highest number of validated companies globally, with more than 2,000 organisations signed up, followed by the UK, US and China.
European-headquartered companies continue to make up a substantial share of the total, with early adoption of science-based targets across the region and continued growth in recent years. The SBTi noted that uptake across Asia has accelerated significantly during the 2020s.
Political scrutiny in the United States
The milestone comes amid ongoing political scrutiny of the SBTi in the United States.
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier has announced an investigation into the organisation, alongside environmental disclosure platform CDP, focusing on alleged potential antitrust violations and deceptive trade practices. Separately, 23 US State Attorneys General have sent a joint letter requesting information about the SBTi and its members, with particular focus on its financial sector standard.
For advice on the SBTi process, managing submission for SBTi validation, or supporting ongoing emissions tracking and reporting, get in touch with the team at Sustainable Energy First.
