SBTi Reaches 10,000 Validated Companies as Corporate Climate Action Scales Globally

Science-based targets have become a central reference point for corporate climate strategies and non-financial reporting worldwide. As companies increasingly align their emissions reduction goals with climate science, the role of common standards and validation mechanisms has gained particular significance. Recent developments within the Science Based Targets initiative provide a clear illustration of how this approach is evolving at scale.

Last week, the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) announced that the number of companies with validated science-based targets has reached 10,000 worldwide. This milestone highlights the continued expansion of corporate climate action and reflects the growing adoption of science-based target setting across the global economy. Companies with validated targets are headquartered in more than 90 countries and operate across nearly all major sectors, demonstrating that climate target setting is no longer limited to a small group of early adopters.

According to the SBTi, companies with validated science-based targets together represent more than 40% of global market capitalisation. The scale of participation illustrates how science-based targets have become a mainstream tool for aligning corporate decarbonisation strategies with SBTi approved pathways and long-term net zero objectives.

The Role of the SBTi

Validation of science-based targets is carried out by SBTi Services, the validation arm of the SBTi. To receive validation, companies are required to set targets in line with the criteria defined in SBTi standards, tools and guidance. These criteria are designed to ensure that corporate targets are ambitious and aligned with SBTi approved pathways to achieve net zero by 2050.

The validation process confirms that corporate targets are ambitious, aligned with SBTi-approved pathways and address relevant emissions scopes. Through this framework, the SBTi supports consistent and comparable validation of corporate climate targets within non-financial reporting contexts.

Sectoral and Geographic Distribution of Validated Targets

The group of validated companies includes organisations of different sizes and from a wide range of sectors, from energy and manufacturing to finance, technology and consumer goods. Well-known companies such as Arsenal Football Club, Danone, ING, Lenovo, McLaren Racing and Ørsted are among those with validated science-based targets.

Geographically, European headquartered companies continue to account for a substantial share of validated targets. However, recent years have seen accelerated growth in Asia. Japan now has the highest number of companies with validated science-based targets globally, exceeding 2,000. It is followed by the United Kingdom, the United States and China. This distribution reflects a broadening of climate target adoption beyond its earlier concentration in Europe and North America.

Growth Dynamics Over Time

The SBTi validated its first company in 2015. By 2021, the number of validated companies had reached 1,000. At the beginning of 2026, the initiative reached this milestone after validating more than 2,800 new companies during 2025 alone. This rapid increase indicates a significant acceleration in corporate engagement with science-based targets over a relatively short period.

Data available through the SBTi Target Dashboard provides additional context for this growth. The dashboard distinguishes between companies with validated targets and those that have committed to setting targets within a defined timeframe and is updated on a regular basis to reflect changes in status and submissions. It also differentiates between near-term targets and long-term net zero targets, offering visibility into the maturity of corporate climate strategies across the dataset.

In addition to aggregated milestones, the downloadable dataset underlying the SBTi Target Dashboard provides greater granularity on the characteristics of validated targets. The dataset captures information on different organisation types, including corporates and small and medium-sized enterprises, as well as detailed sector classifications across the validated company base. It also includes target-specific attributes, such as temperature alignment classifications, including 1.5°C and well-below 2°C pathways, and associated target years for near-term and net zero targets. Together, these data points illustrate the level of detail embedded within the SBTi validation framework and the diversity of target structures represented across participating companies.

Implications for Non-financial Reporting

The expansion of validated science-based targets has direct implications for non-financial reporting practices. As more companies align their climate targets with SBTi standards, consistency and comparability of climate-related disclosures are likely to increase. The use of common terminology, such as near-term targets and net zero targets, supports clearer communication with investors, regulators and other stakeholders.

This milestone also reflects the growing integration of climate considerations into core business decision making. Climate change is increasingly recognised as a factor affecting operational efficiency, supply chain stability and long term value creation. In this context, science-based targets provide a structured framework for managing climate-related risks and opportunities within corporate strategies.

Outlook for Science-based Target Setting

Reaching this milestone marks a significant point in the development of corporate climate action. The continued use of SBTi standards and validation processes suggests that science-based targets will remain a key reference for companies seeking to align with global climate objectives. As participation continues to expand across regions and sectors, science-based target setting is becoming an established component of non-financial reporting and corporate sustainability frameworks.