How the SBTi is helping businesses navigate the journey to net zero

In this episode, the speakers dive into how the Science Based Target initiative (SBTi) is working on creating standardization in climate target setting and driving action to achieve net zero.

As businesses prepare to meet the growing demand for transparency in emissions reporting, the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) is leading the way in setting global standards for climate target setting. In a recent episode of the EY Sustainability Matters podcast, host Bruno Sarda is joined by Alberto Carrillo Pineda, Co-founder and CTO of the SBTi, and the two members of the EY Climate Change and Sustainability Services, Rob Bradley, Managing Director, Ernst & Young LLP, and Miranda Nayyar, Manager, Ernst & Young LLP.

Setting, reporting and delivering on credible climate targets is becoming increasingly important as mandatory climate regulations come into effect. EY teams and the SBTi are collaborating in this area to support clients in committing to and settin›g science-based targets, and in developing decarbonization pathways to meet these goals. The EY organization and the SBTi recently co-authored research on the landscape of corporate measurement, reporting and verification related to science-based target setting, which is available to read.

Pineda emphasizes that the SBTi’s focus is on setting the global standard for science-based climate targets to promote accountability and transparency. The speakers address the challenges companies face in climate target setting.

The discussion also explores the impact of emerging climate disclosures, such as the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and the U.S. Securities and Exchange commission (SEC), and how companies can prepare for these.

Overall, Pineda is optimistic about the actual implementation, and notes that the SBTi standards will continue to evolve.

Key takeaways:

  • The importance of setting climate targets has increased, and with more companies making public disclosures, issues of standardization have arisen.
  • The SBTi is evolving standards to provide a globally standardized way to set climate targets and assess decarbonization progress.
  • Setting of targets should go hand in hand with a robust decarbonization strategy to deliver on commitments.
  • Key challenges are data collection and access to data across the value chain.
  • The SBTi is moving toward a formal standard-setting structure and remains dedicated to continuously evolving and revising their standards to ensure alignment with the most up-to-date scientific research and evidence.

You can also listen to this podcast on Apple and Spotify.

For your convenience, full text transcript of this podcast is also available. Read the transcript.

Presenters

Bruno Sarda
Principal, Climate Change & Sustainability Services, Ernst & Young LLP
Rob Bradley
Managing Director, Climate Change and Sustainability Services, Ernst & Young LLP

Podcast

Season 5, Episode 4

Duration 30m 27s

In this series

Series overview
(Event List - Manual)

How just transition helps a fossil fuel reliant local economy community

In this episode, Bruno Sarda and Sandy Nessing of American Electric Power (AEP) discuss how a just transition affects communities where the local economy is dependent on fossil fuels.
Podcast

Season 5, Episode 3

Duration
33m 59s

Presenters

Bruno Sarda

Principal, Climate Change & Sustainability Services, Ernst & Young LLP

How a circular economy can help shift the plastics industry agenda

In this episode of the Sustainability Matters podcast, the speakers discuss technologies enabling greater plastic recyclability and closing the loop in the value chain.
Podcast

Season 5, Episode 2

Duration
23m 01s

Presenters

Bruno Sarda

Principal, Climate Change & Sustainability Services, Ernst & Young LLP

Dr. Velislava Ivanova

EY Americas Chief Sustainability Officer; EY Americas Climate Change and Sustainability Services Leader

How the media industry can prepare for a decarbonized future

Bruno Sarda is joined by guests from WPP to discuss the complexity of the media decarbonization, initiatives to address it and the industry collaboration on the journey to net zero.
Podcast

Season 5, Episode 1

Duration
26m 50s

Presenters

Bruno Sarda

Principal, Climate Change & Sustainability Services, Ernst & Young LLP

How sustainability disclosures are evolving and the prospects for convergence

In this episode, the speakers discuss what we can expect from the ISSB and how it will impact the future of ESG disclosures for businesses.
Podcast

Season 4, Episode 10

Duration
27m 57s

Presenters

Bruno Sarda

Principal, Climate Change & Sustainability Services, Ernst & Young LLP

Terence L Jeyaretnam

EY Asia-Pacific Climate Change and Sustainability Services Leader

How can TNFD bring transparency on a path to save biodiversity?

In the second episode of the sustainability disclosures miniseries, Bruno Sarda and guests discuss the importance of biodiversity, the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) and potential impacts on businesses.
Podcast

Season 4, Episode 9

Duration
34m 31s

Presenters

Bruno Sarda

Principal, Climate Change & Sustainability Services, Ernst & Young LLP

Alexis Gazzo

EY Europe West Sustainability Co-Leader; EY France Climate Change and Sustainability Services Leader

How the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive could impact businesses globally

In the first episode of the sustainability disclosures mini-series, Bruno Sarda and his guests discuss the EU’s new Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and its impact on businesses.
Podcast

Season 4, Episode 8

Duration
27m 57s

Presenters

Bruno Sarda

Principal, Climate Change & Sustainability Services, Ernst & Young LLP

Elodie Timmermans

EY Americas Climate Change and Sustainability Services, Nonfinancial Reporting Assurance and Advisory Leader

COP27: The African and Latin American perspective

In the latest episode of the Sustainability Matters podcast, Bruno Sarda and guests discuss the new COP27 initiatives from the perspective of the Africa and Latin American regions.
Podcast

Season 4, Episode 7

Duration
34m 04s

Presenters

Bruno Sarda

Principal, Climate Change & Sustainability Services, Ernst & Young LLP

How sustainability can prevail during times of geopolitical uncertainty

In this episode of the Sustainability Matters podcast, Bruno Sarda and Matthew Bell examine how CSOs can maintain sustainability as a key priority in a changing geopolitical environment.
Podcast

Season 4, Episode 6

Duration
25m 41s

Presenters

Bruno Sarda

Principal, Climate Change & Sustainability Services, Ernst & Young LLP

Dr. Matthew J. Bell

EY UK&I Climate Change and Sustainability Services Leader