The Science Based Targets Network (SBTN)

What is it?

The Science Based Targets Network (SBTN)  builds upon the momentum of the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) and brings together experts from more than 60 NGOs, business associations, and consultancies to achieve widespread adoption of science-based targets on water, land, biodiversity, and ocean.

Science-based targets are measurable, actionable, and time-bound objectives, based on the best available science, that allow actors to align with Earth’s limits and societal sustainability goals. This involves setting, implementing, and tracking progress on science-based targets for nature (across freshwater, land, biodiversity, ocean, and climate*) along a five-step process. 

*Climate science-based targets is a separate process under the SBTi

How to use it?

As a first step, companies can now join the SBTN Corporate Engagement Program to learn from the experiences of other companies signed up for the program, as well as from SBTN experts.

SBTN has also provided onboarding materials for organizations that want to take action on nature but are not sure how to achieve this. These currently cover the first three steps in the process below. Additional guidance on the final two steps is expected in 2024. 

Setting a science-based target for nature is a five-step process:

• Assess – Determine which environmental impacts to address with target setting and which parts of the business to focus on to get started. Screen for pressures most likely to require target-setting from across the whole value chain in locations companies operate and source from
• Interpret and Prioritize – Use the information from step 1 to determine which science-based targets to set, which locations and economic activities to include, and where to act first to mitigate the most significant negative impacts on nature and increase the potential for positive impacts. 
• Measure, set, and disclose targets – Set and disclose targets using SBTN’s Step 3 technical guidance.
• Act – Use the Action Framework (AR3T) and interactive diagram and resources as a precursor to more comprehensive guidance expected in 2024.  
• Track – Measurement, reporting, and verification (MRV) take place during all steps. Guidance related to implementing Steps 1-2 and setting freshwater and land targets (Step 3) is already included as part of SBTN’s first release in 2023. Detailed MRV guidance for companies in the process of acting on science-based targets for nature is currently in development.