What is the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi)?
The Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) is a climate initiative that provides a framework for companies to set greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets aligned with climate science. It is not an ISO management system standard, and an SBTi target validation is distinct from certification of an ISO management system.
The initiative’s target-setting criteria and requirements can change. Organisations should check the current SBTi guidance relevant to their company and target type before preparing a submission. The work generally involves understanding the organisation’s emissions, defining the target boundary and timeframe, and setting targets that meet applicable criteria.
AuditCert International’s service is described as helping organisations set emissions targets aligned with climate science. The current service information outlines an initial assessment to understand the business and agree scope, followed by planning and review. Contact the team to clarify the precise scope of support and whether it is appropriate for your intended SBTi submission.
Who may need SBTi target-setting support?
SBTi may be relevant to organisations that want to establish climate-aligned emissions targets and be able to explain their approach to customers, business partners, investors or other stakeholders. In Bangladesh, this may include manufacturers and exporters in sectors such as textiles and garments, food processing, engineering and other supply-chain businesses, as well as service organisations. These are examples of potential users, not a claim that every organisation or sector is required to participate.
A buyer may ask a supplier to disclose emissions or demonstrate progress towards climate goals. Such a request does not necessarily mean the buyer requires SBTi participation or validation; the organisation should confirm what evidence is requested. Regulatory obligations also depend on the organisation’s location, activities and applicable rules. SBTi is not itself a substitute for checking legal or customer requirements.
The service may be useful when leadership wants a consistent process for setting targets, when customers are asking about climate commitments, or when an organisation is preparing to make a public emissions-reduction commitment. First establish whether SBTi is the right framework for the organisation and which current criteria apply.
What practical benefits can target-setting bring?
- A defined target-setting process can help management move from a broad climate ambition to a specific emissions-reduction objective.
- Reviewing the organisation’s emissions information can help identify where data is available, where it is incomplete and what needs better tracking.
- Agreed scope and responsibilities can make it clearer which operations and teams contribute information to the target-setting work.
- A documented approach can help the organisation explain its climate targets and the basis for them to customers and other stakeholders.
- Reviewing progress over time can support management oversight and help identify when assumptions, data or actions need attention.
- Working towards applicable SBTi criteria can help an organisation understand what is expected before it prepares or submits targets for validation.
These are potential management and communication benefits, not a promise of target validation, a particular emissions outcome or improved commercial results.
How does the process work with AuditCert International?
Enquiry and application
Contact AuditCert International with a short description of your organisation, activities and what you need. The team will explain what is involved and discuss the next step.
Initial assessment
AuditCert International seeks to understand your business and agree the scope of the work. This is the opportunity to clarify your objectives and the SBTi criteria or submission route you are considering.
Planning
The team plans the review with you, including the information and relevant people needed to understand your current position.
Review and implementation support
AuditCert International reviews your system or approach against the agreed requirements. The current page does not define a detailed SBTi deliverable, so confirm the review scope before proceeding.
Findings and next actions
Discuss the review feedback, identify gaps or questions and determine what further work is needed. Target-setting decisions and any SBTi submission remain subject to the applicable SBTi criteria and processes.
Certification and continuing improvement
The current service page describes certification and feedback to support continuous improvement. However, SBTi is not an ISO management system standard, and SBTi target validation is not certification by AuditCert International. Ask the team to clarify exactly what any certificate relates to and who would issue or validate an SBTi target.
Follow-up
Where ongoing review or surveillance applies to a separately defined certification service, the arrangements depend on that service’s scope. Confirm any follow-up requirements with AuditCert International.
The steps, assessment and outcome depend on the agreed service scope. No certification or SBTi target validation is automatic.
What should you prepare?
Prepare information that helps the team understand your organisation and the target-setting work you have in mind. The precise documents depend on your activities, available emissions data and the current SBTi requirements that apply.
- A concise description of your organisation, products or services, sites and principal activities.
- The organisational boundary you are considering, including relevant operations or entities, and any questions about what to include.
- Available greenhouse gas emissions inventories, calculations, methods, assumptions and source records. Do not present estimates as measured data; identify limitations clearly.
- Energy, fuel and other activity data used in emissions calculations, with the period covered and the teams responsible for the information.
- Existing climate policies, targets, plans, public commitments and relevant customer or stakeholder requests.
- Any current SBTi guidance, criteria or submission requirements you are working against, so the intended scope can be discussed.
- People who can explain company boundaries, emissions data, operations and management decisions. This may involve senior management and staff responsible for environmental, energy, finance, procurement or operational information.
The current service page does not prescribe a document list. AuditCert International can discuss what is relevant once it understands your organisation and needs.
How long does it take, and what affects time and cost?
The time and cost depend on the agreed scope and the condition of the information available; the current service information gives no duration or price. A useful estimate requires understanding what you need and what work is included.
Factors may include the size and complexity of the organisation, the number of operations in scope, how complete and consistent emissions data is, and whether responsibilities and calculation methods are already documented. Time may also be affected by the need to clarify organisational boundaries, address data gaps, involve multiple teams or align the work with current SBTi criteria.
Ask AuditCert International to review your needs and confirm the proposed scope, deliverables, responsibilities, fees and any follow-up arrangements before work begins. SBTi criteria and validation processes can change, so allow for checking the requirements that apply to your intended submission.
Why contact AuditCert International?
AuditCert International is an accredited certification body offering management system certification, audits and training, including services in Bangladesh and worldwide. The existing page describes an initial assessment, agreement on scope, planning and review, followed by feedback to support continuous improvement.
For this service, the page describes support with setting emissions targets aligned with climate science. Because SBTi target validation is separate from certification of an ISO management system, ask the team to state clearly what its review covers and whether it involves advice, an assessment against specified criteria or another defined activity. AuditCert International should not be assumed to validate SBTi targets unless that is explicitly confirmed.
To enquire, send a short description of your organisation and what you need. AuditCert International will explain what is involved and the next step. You can also call +8801718008488.
