What is a science-based target?

A greenhouse-gas reduction target aligned with the level of decarbonisation required to keep global temperature increase to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. The Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) validates targets against its Corporate Net-Zero Standard.

Do I have to submit my target to SBTi to call it 'science-based'?

Publicly claiming a validated science-based target requires SBTi review and validation. You can adopt an SBTi-aligned target internally without submitting, but the SBTi label is protected - this tool produces a draft you can either use internally or submit for validation.

What's the difference between near-term and long-term targets?

Near-term targets cover 5–10 years from the base year and drive immediate action. The long-term target must reach net-zero by 2050 at the latest, with a 90% absolute reduction versus the base year - the remaining 10% is neutralised by permanent carbon removals.

When is a Scope 3 target mandatory?

Under SBTi criterion C15, a Scope 3 target is required whenever Scope 3 emissions are more than 40% of your total Scope 1 + 2 + 3 base-year inventory. Most manufacturers, retailers and services companies fall above this threshold.

Why 4.2% per year for 1.5°C?

The 4.2% linear rate is derived from the IPCC 1.5°C-no-overshoot scenarios and applied by SBTi as the minimum ambition for absolute Scope 1 & 2 targets. It is a straight-line reduction against the base year, not compound.

Is well-below-2°C still accepted?

For Scope 3, yes - 2.5%/yr well-below-2°C remains the default. For Scope 1 & 2, new targets submitted from 2023 onwards must be 1.5°C aligned; older targets may be grandfathered until the next revalidation.

Which grid factor should I use for Scope 2?

The SBTi default is location-based Scope 2 using the country grid factor. Market-based Scope 2 (with green tariffs or PPAs) may be reported additionally, but the location-based figure is what the target validation uses.

How much does SBTi validation cost?

Validation is a fee-based service via SBTi Services Ltd. For SMEs (fewer than 500 employees) a simplified route exists at lower cost. This tool is free and produces the working draft - validation itself is separate.

SBTi · Net-Zero Standard v1.2

SBTi target setter — near-term & net-zero

Convert your base-year emissions into an SBTi-aligned near-term target and long-term net-zero pathway using the Corporate Net-Zero Standard's linear contraction method. Bilingual guided form, PDF export, no signup.

Current revision 9 July 2026

Company1 of 4 complete

Step 1

Company profile

The base year fixes the reference against which reductions are measured. SBTi requires the base year to be no more than two years before submission.

Company name

Sector or activity

Base year

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How the target setter works

The tool applies the SBTi Corporate Net-Zero Standard's linear absolute-contraction pathway to your base-year inventory. It computes the required reduction for Scope 1 & 2 (and Scope 3 when material), produces a draft target statement in the SBTi-recognised format, and exports the full annual pathway to PDF or CSV - ready to review with your sustainability lead before validation.

Standard: SBTi Corporate Net-Zero Standard v1.2 (April 2024) and Near-Term Criteria & Recommendations v5.1. The tool covers near-term (5–10 years) and long-term net-zero targets. Sector-specific pathways (FLAG, power, buildings, transport) are not modelled - use the SBTi sector guidance for those.
Scope 1 & 2 ambition: 1.5°C aligned = 4.2% linear absolute reduction per year, measured from the base year. Well-below-2°C = 2.5%/yr and is only accepted for existing near-term targets grandfathered before v5.1.
Scope 3 threshold: SBTi criterion C15: a Scope 3 target is mandatory when Scope 3 represents more than 40% of total base-year Scope 1 + 2 + 3 emissions. The tool flags this automatically. Scope 3 default ambition is well-below-2°C (2.5%/yr).
Base year rules: The base year must be no more than two years before the year of submission. All targets are absolute - economic or physical intensity targets are not produced by this tool.
Long-term net-zero: SBTi requires a long-term commitment to reach net-zero across the value chain by 2050 at the latest, with a 90% absolute reduction against the base year. Residual emissions must be neutralised by permanent removals.
Storage: All inputs live in your browser (localStorage). Export as JSON to keep an auditable record or CSV for spreadsheets.

A 62-person Cypriot logistics firm sets a 1.5°C near-term target

A road-freight operator based in Nicosia takes 2024 as its base year: Scope 1 = 480 t CO₂e (diesel fleet), Scope 2 = 45 t CO₂e (depot electricity, Cyprus grid), Scope 3 = 210 t CO₂e (upstream fuel + business travel). Scope 3 is 29% of total - below the 40% threshold, so a Scope 3 target is recommended rather than mandatory. The COO picks 2030 as the target year (6-year horizon). Scope 1 & 2: 6 × 4.2% = 25.2% absolute reduction, from 525 to 393 t CO₂e. Scope 3 at well-below-2°C: 6 × 2.5% = 15% reduction, from 210 to 178 t CO₂e. The draft statement is exported as PDF, walked through the SBTi submission checklist, and the firm books the validation review - total elapsed time under two hours.

SBTi target setting, answered

What is a science-based target?
A greenhouse-gas reduction target aligned with the level of decarbonisation required to keep global temperature increase to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. The Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) validates targets against its Corporate Net-Zero Standard.
Do I have to submit my target to SBTi to call it 'science-based'?
Publicly claiming a validated science-based target requires SBTi review and validation. You can adopt an SBTi-aligned target internally without submitting, but the SBTi label is protected - this tool produces a draft you can either use internally or submit for validation.
What's the difference between near-term and long-term targets?
Near-term targets cover 5–10 years from the base year and drive immediate action. The long-term target must reach net-zero by 2050 at the latest, with a 90% absolute reduction versus the base year - the remaining 10% is neutralised by permanent carbon removals.
When is a Scope 3 target mandatory?
Under SBTi criterion C15, a Scope 3 target is required whenever Scope 3 emissions are more than 40% of your total Scope 1 + 2 + 3 base-year inventory. Most manufacturers, retailers and services companies fall above this threshold.
Why 4.2% per year for 1.5°C?
The 4.2% linear rate is derived from the IPCC 1.5°C-no-overshoot scenarios and applied by SBTi as the minimum ambition for absolute Scope 1 & 2 targets. It is a straight-line reduction against the base year, not compound.
Is well-below-2°C still accepted?
For Scope 3, yes - 2.5%/yr well-below-2°C remains the default. For Scope 1 & 2, new targets submitted from 2023 onwards must be 1.5°C aligned; older targets may be grandfathered until the next revalidation.
Which grid factor should I use for Scope 2?
The SBTi default is location-based Scope 2 using the country grid factor. Market-based Scope 2 (with green tariffs or PPAs) may be reported additionally, but the location-based figure is what the target validation uses.
How much does SBTi validation cost?
Validation is a fee-based service via SBTi Services Ltd. For SMEs (fewer than 500 employees) a simplified route exists at lower cost. This tool is free and produces the working draft - validation itself is separate.