The Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) has finalised the appointment process for the second cohort of its independent Technical Council, selecting 16 experts through an open, merit-based process. Operating under delegated authority from the SBTi Board of Trustees, the Technical Council serves as the organisation’s independent decision-making body responsible for reviewing and approving climate standards, methods, and normative guidance.
Beginning their terms in July 2026, council members serve in a personal capacity to maintain scientific rigor and operational transparency. Laura Draucker, formerly Vice Chair, has been appointed Chair of the Council, alongside Piers Forster, who will serve as Vice-Chair. The cohort includes both new appointees and returning members, such as Christa Anderson, Kornelis Blok, Mandy Rambharos, and Pankaj Bhatia, among others.
This appointments process marks the implementation of a new staggered renewal model approved by the Board of Trustees in December 2025. Designed to balance institutional continuity with fresh perspectives, the model features five outgoing members, ten reappointed members serving one- or two-year terms, and six new members appointed for an initial three-year term.
Alberto Carrillo Pineda, Chief Technical Officer of the SBTi, emphasized the role of independent oversight, stating, “Credible climate standards depend on robust governance as much as they do on sound science. As we move into implementation of our Strategy and Corporate Net-Zero Standard V2.0, the Council’s extensive expertise and independent oversight will be critical.”
