Why 10,000 Companies' Climate Targets are SBTi-Validated
Across the world, 10,000 companies have set validated science-based climate targets.
The Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), which validates the targets, is a corporate climate action organisation that sets the standards and guidelines for decarbonisation targets.
Its aim is to drive climate action in the corporate sector, in line with the Paris Agreement’s goal to limit global warming to 1.5 C.
The need for climate action
The 10,000 companies validated by the SBTi represent more than 40% of global market capitalisation, including some of the world’s most recognisable brands like Lenovo, Danone and Arsenal Football Club.
Japan holds the highest number of validated companies with more than 2,000, followed by the UK, the US and China.
The SBTi validated its first company in 2015 and its 1,000th in 2021.
Reaching this milestone showcases the SBTi’s role in climate ambition, showing how companies can be transparent and accountable with their emissions and sustainability practices.
David Kennedy, CEO of the SBTi, writes on LinkedIn: “Businesses continue to set science-based targets because they recognise the strategic, reputational and financial benefits of net zero transformation.
“Climate ambition is increasingly core to long-term value creation. And setting science-based targets is a key lever for companies to manage their transition risk.
“We look forward to supporting many more companies on the journey from ambition to action as this transition continues to grow.”
David will be giving a keynote speech at Sustainability LIVE: The Net Zero Summit on 4 March in London.
About David Kennedy
David is a sustainability and net zero leader, with a career spanning more than three decades.
Prior to joining the SBTi as CEO, he was a partner at EY, where he led work on net zero strategy and planning with over twenty major companies across food, infrastructure, manufacturing and banking.
He was Director General of Food, Biosecurity and Trade at the UK Government’s Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), where he led on food strategy (including net zero and nature), food security through Brexit and the Covid-19 pandemic, farming reforms for net-zero and nature and food in trade deals with Australia and New Zealand.
He also led on departmental transformation programmes, including strategy, governance, data and systems, and internal ways of working.
He was chair of the Defra People Committee and Social Mobility Champion.
As Director General at the Department for International Development (DfID), he led the design and implementation of a new approach to economic development in sub-Saharan Africa based on clean infrastructure, FDI and agriculture commercialisation.
Prior to this, he was the founding Chief Executive of the UK’s Committee on Climate Change (CCC).
Under David’s leadership, the CCC designed sector pathways, carbon budgets, targets, metrics, milestones and key policies.
Earlier in his career, David led on fundamental reform of the EU ETS and the economic assessment for nuclear new-build.
He also played key roles at the World Bank and EBRD, leading on infrastructure strategy, policy reform and major investments.
He has a PhD in economics from LSE.
He was awarded a CBE for services to climate change and a CB for public service during Covid.
Secure your tickets now to hear from David at Sustainability LIVE: The Net Zero Summit.
Climate credibility at The Net Zero Summit
David will be presenting a Keynote at Sustainability LIVE: The Net Zero Summit on 4 March 2026.
He will share expert knowledge on sustainability goals and reporting transparency in his keynote, The Science of Credibility: Turning Net Zero Pledges into Climate Reality.
Sustainability LIVE: The Net Zero Summit takes place at the QEII Centre, Westminster, as the premier event for senior sustainability leaders driving decarbonisation at scale.
Co-located with Procurement & Supply Chain LIVE, the event will spotlight the intersection between sustainability and supply chains, bringing together professionals to accelerate impact.
